The San Francisco 49ers listed wide receiver Ricky Pearsall as questionable for Sunday’s Wild Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles, and his status is now official.
UDPATE (3:11 pm ET): David Lombardi reported Ricky Pearsall would be inactive against the Eagles.
Pearsall has been dealing with knee and ankle issues, with head coach Kyle Shanahan previously acknowledging a reaggravation tied to a PCL injury. Pearsall appeared to walk normally in a pregame video posted by a 49ers reporter.
Nick Wagoner reported at 3:04 pm ET that Pearsall had not been seen on the field yet.
What the 49ers have said about Ricky Pearsall’s injury
Shanahan said on January 5 that Pearsall “reaggravated it,” adding that this is “usually what happens with PCLs.”
As the week progressed, Pearsall did not practice, which is typically the biggest red flag heading into kickoff. Fox Sports insider Jay Glazer reported Pearsall would be a game-time decision for the playoff opener in Philadelphia.
That’s why this storyline is tailor-made for search: you can have a “questionable” tag all week, but the real answer often doesn’t come until the league forces it at the very end.
When did the final Ricky Pearsall update become official?
The cleanest “final update” came with the official inactives list.
San Francisco and Philadelphia kick off at 4:30 pm ET. NFL teams release inactives 90 minutes before kickoff, meaning Pearsall’s true status should be locked in around 3:00 pm ET.
If you’re updating this post serial-style, the three key checkpoints are:
- Pre-game warmups (watching how he moves/cuts)
- Inactives (90 minutes pre-kick)
- Early snap usage (if active, is he rotating or clearly limited?)
How to watch 49ers vs. Eagles (TV channel, stream, radio)
Here’s the quick “how to watch” info fans search for on game day:
- TV channel: FOX
- Kickoff time: 4:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. MT / 1:30 p.m. PT
- Live stream options: FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports App are listed by FOX Sports, and the 49ers’ official “Ways to Watch” post also lists NFL+ for mobile/tablet viewing.
- How to listen (49ers radio): The 49ers list KSFO (810 AM), The Bone (107.7 FM) and the 49ers Radio Network, plus the 49ers App (in-market) and 49ers.com.
Why the 49ers’ roster moves hint this could go down to the wire
San Francisco made at least one move that reads like injury insurance: the 49ers elevated wide receiver Malik Turner (and linebacker Jalen Graham) from the practice squad.
Niners Nation also noted the team downgraded Jacob Cowing from questionable to out, which tightens the receiver picture even more if Pearsall can’t go.
If Pearsall is inactive, the 49ers are staring at a thinner WR rotation in a road playoff game, one that could also include weather complications (wind/snow potential) that may affect how the offense is called.
What it means for the 49ers vs. Eagles
If Pearsall is active, the question becomes how much he can actually give them, especially if he’s trying to gut it out without a full practice week.
If he’s inactive, the 49ers’ path likely shifts toward:
- leaning harder on their top options (and tight ends)
- using elevations/role players to cover snaps
- playing more conservative if conditions in Philly get messy
Either way, this is exactly the kind of January injury that turns into a last-minute announcement, and the inactives list is where your headline can finally “settle” into the final version.
Ricky Pearsall Injury Update: 49ers Reveal Final Status on WR Ahead of Eagles Game