Santa Clara – 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan announced Ricky Pearsall will make his NFL debut this Sunday when the team hosts the Kansas City Chiefs. Pearsall has been out for seven weeks since the Wide Receiver was attacked while shopping in Union Square in San Francisco.
Opening comments:
“Injuries for the game: [K Matthew] Matt Wright will be out, [K] Jake Moody will be out, [WR] Jauan Jennings will be out, [DL] Kevin Givens, questionable, [CB Darrell] Luter [Jr.], questionable and [WR] Ricky [Pearsall] will be activated, full-go.”
What does that mean for the spirit of the team to have Ricky back in uniform and on the field?
“The guys are pumped. He’s been around the guys for a while now, so it’s not like he hasn’t been around, but practicing all week. It’s been great to see him out there. I think the guys were more real happy for him that he could get back and be a part of it. He’s had a hell of a week and we’re just pumped to get him out there with us.”
You mentioned he was a little winded on Monday’s practice. How is he now?
“Great. We were doing a walk-through and he was winded. So, I don’t think it was winded as in stamina. I think he was so excited to be out on the field and stuff and things like that. And right after we say that, because I had him break the team down and he was a little out of breath, but I think it was more excitement than winded since we hadn’t broke a sweat yet. But he was awesome.”
What can he do at this stage, special teams, return punts, just play receiver? At this early stage, what would you feel comfortable with?
“Wherever he is needed at. He’s got roles on special teams. He has got roles as a receiver. We’ll see how the game unfolds, but he’s healthy and ready to go.”
He didn’t get much training camp and obviously hasn’t had much until now. Do you have a snap count or some set of workload limit for him?
“Yeah, but you only get so many guys up. You put guys in what they’re ready for, but it’s always hard with a snap count when it’s not a preseason game and things like that. Ricky’s been studying, he’s been getting a ton of stuff. I know he’ll get better as the year goes so we understand that with our expectations and everything. Missing all the practice, missing some time, makes it harder just schematically and everything getting out of the huddle. But he’s working his butt off to catch up. He’s gotten better each day. I know he will get better each week.”
Would he be up if Jennings was good to go?
“Yes.”
RB Jordan Mason, everything’s good to go with him even though he was limited all week?
“Good to go with him. He’s not today. He’s full-on Sunday. Full.”
How will you work the kicker situation? I see some gymnastics roster-wise.
“Matt Wright will end up going on IR. He’s worse than we expected. So, he can’t get back. Jake Moody is still week-to-week, high-ankle sprain. Not expecting him next week either, but hopefully after the Bye.”
So, move K Anders Carlson up from the practice squad?
“Yes.”
The activation for Pearsall will happen tomorrow? Does all that stuff happen on Saturday?
“I believe it’ll happen tomorrow. Those are things I don’t totally worry about as long as someone does it right. I think that tomorrow by one o’clock is when we’ve got to do it. So, I’m sure it’ll be then.”
When was Ricky told that he would be up and did you deliver the news? What was his reaction?
“No, I wish I, I don’t know if anyone delivered the news. I wish I could give you guys a better story, but I think he looked good on Monday. He looked even better on Wednesday and so we kept repping him and when you’re repping guys like that and I think he understood he was going to be up. There was no magical moment, but you can ask him.”
You said on Friday that you expected a longer ramp up, but then you also said when he’s ready, he’s ready.
“Yeah, exactly. I didn’t want to go in him thinking like, ‘Man, I’ve got to show everybody this on day one, day two, because they’re waiting because they’re trying to put me up right away.’ So there was no expectation in that way. I just wanted to see him. We hadn’t seen him out there in a while, going with the team. And Monday, I didn’t even really count, just because it was a walk-through and everything. But Wednesday, he looked great and Thursday was even better and today he’s even more comfortable. So that made the decision pretty easy.”
Does Jauan’s hip injury seem long-term or no?
“I don’t think it is long-term. I hope he’ll be ready for next week. He was close this week, so I’m hoping to get him back next week.”
Photo by Twitter/49ers
