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Ricky Pearsall

NFL Injury Updates: McManus, Ingram, Pearsall, Lions

November 16th, 2025 at 1:00pm CST by Ely Allen

The Packers are without regular kicker Brandon McManus today after he spent the week as “doubtful” on the injury report with a right quad injury, per Ryan Wood of USA Today. Backup kicker Lucas Havrisik is taking over kicking duties at MetLife today.

McManus’ quad injury has lingered since it forced him to miss the team’s Week 6 & 7 games earlier this year. Havrisik signed with Green Bay after a successful audition that also featured Greg Joseph. Havrisik was perfect in his two games in relief of McManus. He converted all four field goal attempts, including a career-long 61-yarder, and all six extra point attempts.

This will be McManus’ third missed game of the year. It’s not clear at the moment how much this week’s setback will affect him moving forward. Havirisik’s consistent presence on the 53-man roster means the Packers will be prepared for whatever his prognosis may be.

Here are a few other injury updates from around the NFL:

  • With starting right guard Ed Ingram once again out this week for the Texans‘ trip to Tennessee as he deals with a sprained knee, the Texans have shifted usual starting right tackle Tytus Howard inside to right guard and tapped veteran tackle Trent Brown to sub in at right tackle, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. Brown started there last week when Howard was out with a concussion.
  • Brock Purdy isn’t the only offensive player the 49ers are getting back after a long absence. Per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner, second-year wide receiver Ricky Pearsall will also play today after missing every game since Week 4. Sitting out of practice for most of that time, as well, Pearsall was able to string together a couple limited practices before finally being a full participant on Friday.
  • Despite rising optimism for returns soon to come, the Lions ruled pass rusher Marcus Davenport, cornerback D.J. Reed, linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez, and rookie offensive guard Miles Frazier out for their game tonight, meaning all four players will remain on injured reserve with a designation to return.

Mac Jones To Start Week 10; Latest On Other 49ers Injuries

November 7th, 2025 at 7:53pm CST by Ely Allen

Every week, there seems to be something injury-related coming out of the Bay Area. Whether it’s somebody preparing to miss a lot of time, a “will he” or “won’t he” gametime decision, or questions on timetables for return, the 49ers have provided headlines all season. The latest such headline pertains to the middle option as a questionable Brock Purdy will watch Mac Jones start for the sixth week in a row, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

It’s become a weekly post with Purdy, who has been on the team’s injury report every week since he was hurt in the season opener. The 25-year-old has been getting closer and closer to coming back, and head coach Kyle Shanahan communicated that he could still be active as a backup to Jones. Third-string passer Adrian Martinez was signed from the practice squad to the active roster back in October as Purdy was nearing a return back then, so with three quarterbacks on the 53-man, Purdy could either be a primary backup or an emergency third option.

The quarterback role we do know, though, will be Jones, who will start under center for the eighth time this year. After winning his first three starts as an injury replacement, Jones has cooled off, alternating losses and wins since then. Despite a largely injured supporting cast around him, Jones is averaging a career-high 261.7 passing yards per game while also sporting the best touchdown:interception ratio (10:5) of his career. He’ll be looking to buck the trend of alternating finishes after beating the Giants last week.

One player we know won’t be out there is wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. The second-year pass-catcher has been missing since Week 4 and is about to miss his sixth game in a row. Asked about what’s holding Pearsall from being able to play, Shanahan told the media that “he hasn’t been able to hit his normal speeds that would allow him to come back,” per Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. Reporters noted the young wideout had been sighted doing sprints at practices and shooting jump shots in the locker room, but Shanahan was adamant that the team is waiting for Pearsall to be able to hit his old marks.

Pearsall isn’t the only receiver unavailable this week. Veteran wideout Brandon Aiyuk remains on the reserve/PUP list ten weeks into the season. November was offered up last month as a potential return window for the 27-year-old receiver. It’s now been over a year since Aiyuk has appeared in a game, and each week, expectations for Aiyuk’s 21-day practice window to be opened go unrealized. Shanahan continues to seem vaguely optimistic, with Vic Tafur of The Athletic quoting him as “pretty confident” that Aiyuk will be back sometime this season.

Given the extended absences of players like Purdy and Pearsall, among some others, there have been questions on why players missing so much time weren’t put on injured reserve. According to The Athletic’s Matt Barrows, the primary reason is simply that they didn’t expect each player to be out for so long. Additionally, while the NFL has implemented the current system wherein teams can bring players back from IR, each team is only given eight such activations.

Lucky teams can put players with minor injuries on IR and activate them four weeks later just to manipulate roster numbers. With so many injuries week in and week out, the 49ers likely would’ve loved to place guys on IR so they could add healthy reinforcements to the roster. Knowing how many impact players they had already placed on IR, though, San Francisco needed to be weary of how it would be able to utilize its limited activations.

One player that did land on IR recently was edge rusher Yetur Gross-Matos. Gross-Matos had been out since Week 5 and was expected to make a return soon. Unfortunately, the 27-year-old defender strained his hamstring again near the end of last week, per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. While it will take Gross-Matos some time to work his way back from the injury, Shanahan doesn’t believe he will be sidelined for the remainder of the season.

49ers To Activate George Kittle, Rule Out Brock Purdy

October 17th, 2025 at 5:01pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The 49ers ruled out quarterback Brock Purdy for Week 7, per The Athletic’s Vic Tafur, meaning that Mac Jones will make his fifth start of the season.

Purdy was still limited in practice this week due to a re-aggravation of his toe injury. Jones, meanwhile, progressed to full participation despite dealing with knee and oblique injuries. He has led the 49ers to a 3-1 record in his four starts with a league-high 313 passing yards per game.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan also said (via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner) that tight end George Kittle would be activated from injured reserve for Sunday’s game, ending his four-game absence due to a Week 1 hamstring injury. Kittle is not expected to be on any kind of snap count, according to Tafur.

San Francisco created the space for Kittle’s activation on Friday by placing wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling on injured reserve, per Wagoner. The eight-year veteran will now be on the shelf for at least four games with a calf injury and becomes the latest 49ers wideout to miss time. Ricky Pearsall has been out for the last two games with a knee issue that will sideline him for Sunday’s contest as well. Jacob Cowing is on IR, though Shanahan said (via Wagoner) that he is “getting close” to returning to practice. Jauan Jennings has missed two games and played through four others with a litany of injuries. That’s not even mentioning Brandon Aiyuk, who will not be back until November at the earliest.

Kittle’s return will obviously go a long way in relieving the pressure on the 49ers’ injured receiving corps. Backup tight end Jake Tonges has performed well in his absence, giving Shanahan the options of using more two-tight end formations until the rest of his offense gets healthier.

Shanahan also said that defensive tackle Kevin Givens will “most likely” be activated from IR as well, which would add depth to a defensive line that has also dealt with a number of injuries this year. The 49ers can easily create a roster spot for Givens by placing linebacker Fred Warner on injured reserve after an ankle injury that is expected to end his season.

49ers To Sign CB Eli Apple

July 27th, 2025 at 9:30pm CST by Ely Allen

The 49ers already entered training camp working to establish their cornerbacks group after losing Charvarius Ward and Isaac Yiadom in the offseason. The position took another hit two days ago when returning starter Renardo Green left practice early with an apparent hamstring injury, per Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. An update today from Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports reported that head coach Kyle Shanahan expects that Green will be out at least until the team’s second preseason game, meaning about a two-week absence.

Down another body in the room, San Francisco moved to sign veteran cornerback Eli Apple, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who was informed by Apple’s agent, Kevin Conner. Apple is now set to join his seventh NFL team as he heads into his 10th year of play. His new deal with the 49ers will be a one-year agreement.

Apple hasn’t held a full-time starting role in the NFL since his two-year stint with the Bengals ended after the 2022 season. 2023 saw Apple signed by the Dolphins around this same time of year when Jalen Ramsey suffered a knee injury in training camp. He appeared in 10 games with Miami, starting four. Last year, Apple went unsigned into the regular season and eventually signed with the Chargers after Asante Samuel Jr. went down. The cycle continues for a third year in a row as Apple lands with a team late because of an injury.

One of the reasons Apple is rarely getting long-term deals is his own injury history. Apple has never played in every game of a full season in his nine-year career. His best attempts were in the final of two years of his rookie contract (split between New York and New Orleans), in which he started and played in 30 of a possible 32 games, and his two years in Cincinnati, in which started 30 of 31 appearances out of a possible 34 games. Overall, he’s missed 30 games due to injury over the years, including most recently, the Chargers’ last six game of 2024.

Regardless, the Niners are turning to the veteran to help fill out a thin room in training camp. As it stood before the injury to Green, Deommodore Lenoir was set to start opposite Green on the outside, after spending most of 2024 in the slot. Lenoir’s nickelback role was likely to be filled by third-round Western Kentucky rookie Upton Stout, who frequented the position for the Hilltoppers last year. Behind them, free agent additions Tre Brown, Siran Neal, and Dallis Flowers added depth to the group, along with a few less-experienced incumbents like Tre Avery, Darrell Luter Jr., and Chase Lucas. Apple’s experience should help the group this summer and give him a chance to stick into the season, even after Green’s return.

In addition to adding Apple, the 49ers also saw the return to the field of wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. The second-year receiver had been placed on the active/physically unable to perform list a little over a week ago with a hamstring injury, but he’s now passed his physical and returned to practice, per Nick Wagoner of ESPN.

NFL Minor Transactions: 7/18/25

July 18th, 2025 at 8:31pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s minor NFL transactions as we head into the weekend:

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

San Francisco 49ers

The Lions have added three players to the roster today after a working them out. Bootle has had a cup of coffee with a few teams in the league after going undrafted in 2021. Small didn’t see the field at all as an undrafted rookie with the Titans last year, and Russell becomes the latest undrafted rookie free agent to sign a deal this year. His tenacity has been rewarded two and a half months after the draft.

49ers WR Ricky Pearsall, S Ji’Ayir Brown Likely Sidelined Until Training Camp

May 29th, 2025 at 8:32pm CST by Ben Levine

The 49ers are already navigating a pair of notable injuries at the start of OTAs. Kyle Shanahan told reporters today that safety Ji’Ayir Brown recently underwent ankle surgery and is out until training camp (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle). Meanwhile, wideout Ricky Pearsall tweaked his hamstring and isn’t likely to practice in full until training camp (per Matt Barrows of The Athletic).

Brown’s absence would be especially notable considering his standing as one of the 49ers’ most reliable defenders. The former third-round pick carried over momentum from his rookie campaign into his sophomore year. The safety finished the 2024 season with 77 tackles and an interception while pacing the position in snaps played.

It’s unfortunate timing, as the 49ers are also without starting safety Malik Mustapha, who’s currently recovering from a torn ACL. This will provide an opportunity for a pair of newcomers to immediately get their feet wet. Free agent acquisitions Richie Grant and Jason Pinnock should temporarily lead the depth chart.

With Deebo Samuel no longer in the picture and Brandon Aiyuk recovering from a torn ACL and MCL, Pearsall was one of several players with an opportunity to step up in the 49ers offense. The 2024 first-round pick overcame a gunshot injury to appear in 11 games as a rookie, finishing with 31 catches for 400 yards and three touchdowns.

Pearsall will likely have a role waiting for him when he comes back, but his absence will provide Brock Purdy to build a rapport with more of the team’s WR depth. Jauan Jennings will likely be the team’s temporary WR1, while the likes of free agent addition Demarcus Robinson, rookie fourth-round pick Jordan Watkins, and former fourth rounder Jacob Cowing compete for top spots on the depth chart.

In non-injury news, Trent Williams notably didn’t show up for OTAs, according to Shanahan (h/t David Bonilla of 49erswebzone.com). The coach didn’t seem overly concerned about the lineman’s no-show, with Shanahan noting that Williams had been in the building for some spring practices.

49ers To Activate WR Ricky Pearsall, Place K Matthew Wright On IR

October 18th, 2024 at 10:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

As expected, Ricky Pearsall will make his NFL debut on Sunday. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Friday the first-round rookie wideout will be activated from the NFI list in time for Week 7.

The news does not come as a surprise since Pearsall began practicing this week. San Francisco had 21 days to activate him, but much less time than that will be required to bring him into the picture. The move confirms Pearsall’s impressive progress in recovering from the gunshot wound he suffered in August as the victim of an attempted robbery.

The 24-year-old’s move to the NFI list confirmed he would miss at least the first four weeks of the campaign. The team understandably took a cautious approach with his rehab process, and now he is set to handle a rotational role in San Francisco’s passing game. Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel are healthy, but fellow wideout Jauan Jennings will be sidelined for Week 7. That could allow Pearsall to log a notable workload in his debut.

The Arizona State and Florida product faces high expectations as the 49ers’ top pick in this month’s draft. Aiyuk is attached to a big-ticket deal, but Samuel has only one year (without guaranteed salary) left on his pact after 2024. That – coupled with the team’s other upcoming financial priorities, including a Brock Purdy extension – have led to speculation Samuel could be cut or traded this offseason. Moving on from him would position Pearsall to operate as key, cost-controlled offensive playmaker for years to come.

In other injury news, Shanahan added kicker Matthew Wright will be placed on injured reserve. San Francisco’s Jake Moody replacement is dealing with a shoulder injury he suffered during his season debut, and an IR stint will sideline him for at least the next four games. Former Packer Anders Carlson was added to the practice squad in the wake of Wright’s injury, and he will be elevated tomorrow to take on kicking duties for, potentially, the foreseeable future.

Bringing Pearsall onto the active roster will use up one of the 49ers’ in-season activations. They will now have six available, with a number of other players eligible to be brought off IR; that will be the case for Wright down the road, although by that point Moody may be full healthy.

49ers Designate Ricky Pearsall For Return

October 15th, 2024 at 9:35pm CST by Adam La Rose

OCTOBER 15: Coming off their bye week, the 49ers have made this designation official. Pearsall has been designated for return, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. It would make sense if the team gave Pearsall the full three-week onramp before activating him; Tuesday’s return designation starts that clock. The 49ers must activate Pearsall by Nov. 5 or he would miss the full season.

OCTOBER 11: Ricky Pearsall continues to make progress in his rehab, and he is set to return to the practice field in short order. The first-round rookie wideout will have his 21-day return window opened next week, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer (video link).

[RELATED: Christian McCaffrey Resumes On-Field Work]

Pearsall suffered a gunshot wound to the chest as the victim of an attempted robbery in August, and he began the campaign on the non-football injury list. Players moved to NFI are required to miss at least the first four weeks of the campaign, but the 24-year-old made steady progress through September. A return to practice was contemplated last week, but San Francisco elected to take a cautious approach.

Once Pearsall is officially designated for return, he will have three weeks before the 49ers will be forced to activate him to avoid the absence spanning the remainder of the campaign. Given how close the Florida product was to returning last week, he should be positioned to make his regular season debut in relatively short order. Pearsall will provide the team with another intriguing option at the skill positions.

Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel remained in place after an offseason filled with speculation about their respective futures. The former drew major trade attention, with a Steelers deal being worked out on the 49ers’ part; Aiyuk did, however, ultimately sign a four-year, $120MM extension. Samuel is under contract for 2025, but his pact does not contain any guaranteed salary for that year. As a result, the 28-year-old could be a trade candidate this spring as the 49ers prepare for a Brock Purdy extension.

Having Pearsall live up to expectations could of course soften the blow of moving on from Samuel. In his final collegiate season, Pearsall set career highs in catches (65) and yards (965), and he could operate a depth role behind Aiyuk, Samuel and Jauan Jennings once he is activated. With Aiyuk, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle and Trent Williams on the books beyond this year – not to mention Purdy being due for a big-ticket extension – having an offensive contributor attached to a rookie deal for several seasons will be key from a financial standpoint.

The 49ers have seven activations remaining for the campaign, and one will be needed once Pearsall is ready to return to action. The team will also need to save activations for the likes of McCaffrey, Jon Feliciano, Ambry Thomas, Yetur Gross-Matos and Talanoa Hufanga as the season progresses. Regardless of how things play out on those injury fronts, Pearsall should be able to suit up in the near future.

49ers WR Ricky Pearsall Could Return To Practice This Week

October 2nd, 2024 at 2:50pm CST by Ben Levine

OCTOBER 2: The 49ers have not opened Pearsall’s practice window yet, as noted by NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco. Pearsall could still return to the practice field in the coming days, but the fact San Francisco did not bring him back into the fold at the first opportunity is of course an indication he may not be activated until after Week 5.

SEPTEMBER 30: Ricky Pearsall is now eligible to come off injured reserve, and there’s a chance the rookie receiver returns to the practice field this week. ESPN’s Nick Wagoner says “all signs have been pointing to” the 49ers opening Pearsall’s practice window, although Kyle Shanahan later cautioned that the team still hasn’t made a definitive decision (per Matt Barrows of The Athletic).

[RELATED: 49ers Place WR Ricky Pearsall On NFI List]

The first-round pick was the victim of an attempted robbery in late August in which he suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. There was good news in the aftermath; the 23-year-old was initially in serious but stable condition and avoided damage to any vital organs. The bullet also didn’t strike any ribs, a factor which allowed Pearsall to be hospitalized for less than a week.

The rookie was subsequently placed on the NFI list, meaning he’d need to be sidelined until at least Week 5. There was always optimism that Pearsall would make his debut at some point during the 2024 season. It was only recently that hope grew for an October return to the practice field, and it sounds like the wideout may admirably hit that mark. As we learned earlier this month, returning Pearsall from the NFI list to the active roster will count as one of the 49ers’ allotted eight activations for the 2024 campaign.

The snakebitten 49ers will welcome back their rookie wideout, who could find himself with a rotational role by the end of the campaign. Jauan Jennings had a standout Week 3 while filling in for Deebo Samuel, and he’ll likely retain his WR3 behind the veteran and Brandon Aiyuk. Pearsall could supplant the likes of Chris Conley, Ronnie Bell, and Jake Cowing at the bottom of the depth chart, and the 31st-overall pick could be in line for a starting role in 2025 considering Samuel’s trade candidacy.

49ers Place WR Ricky Pearsall On NFI List

September 3rd, 2024 at 3:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

SEPTEMBER 3: General manager John Lynch said (via Barrows) the bullet which hit Pearsall did not strike any ribs, a factor which allowed him to be hospitalized for such a brief period. Lynch added he expects Pearsall to be available at some point during the 2024 campaign. That will not be possible until Week 5 at the earliest, but any regular season action would of course be a welcomed development.

SEPTEMBER 2: Ricky Pearsall will, to no surprise, be sidelined for at least the first four games of the regular season. The 49ers’ first-round rookie was placed on the non-football injury list Monday, as noted by ESPN’s Nick Wagoner.

Pearsall was the victim of an attempted robbery on Saturday and he suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. The 23-year-old was in serious but stable condition in the aftermath of the incident, and none of his vital organs were hit. In an encouraging update yesterday, Pearsall was discharged from hospital.

His recovery will now continue from home, but the 49ers will proceed with caution in terms of getting him back on the field. Pearsall – who had already missed considerable time in training camp and the preseason due to hamstring and shoulder injuries – will be sidelined for a notable period before being eligible to make his regular season debut.

As Matt Barrow of the Athletic notes, returning Pearsall from the NFI list to the active roster will count as one of the eight activations San Francisco has during the campaign. Those activations are generally meant for players placed on injured reserve before or after roster cuts.

The 49ers’ receiver depth chart is set with Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings in place to once again lead the way at the position. Pearsall’s selection on Day 1 of the draft came amidst trade talk surrounding Aiyuk and Samuel, although both are now under contract beyond 2024. Pearsall should occupy a rotational role once healthy, and with Samuel a potential trade candidate next offseason, he could step into a starting gig in 2025.

In a corresponding move, the 49ers signed offensive tackle Brandon Parker to the active roster. The former Raider is a veteran of 59 games and 33 starts, and he is positioned to take on the swing tackle role for Week 1. Jaylon Moore is on track to start at left tackle for San Francisco due to Trent Williams‘ ongoing holdout. The future Hall of Famer is on the reserve/did not report list while talks on a contract resolution continue. An agreement could be coming soon, but for at least the coming week Parker will likely be counted on as key depth up front.

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