The San Francisco 49ers suffered a frustrating 26-21 loss on Sunday to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday in which their players had a serious case of butterfingers. They committed a total of four turnovers, and on defense, they came close to forcing multiple turnovers, only to not be able to get a grip on the football.
They have been hit hard by the injury bug for the second year in a row, and things only got worse on Sunday. Second-year wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, who seems to be breaking out as a stud, left the game due to a knee problem. Wideout Jauan Jennings also left in the third quarter because of a rib injury.
With their next game taking place on Thursday against the Los Angeles Rams, the Niners badly need some good fortune on the injury front, especially after quarterback Brock Purdy said the injured toe that kept him out of Week 2 and Week 3 was still hurting him.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan gave an update on Pearsall’s health on Monday during a conference call with the media.
Read more: Saints Get Major Update on Tayson Hill’s Return
“We’ve got to get it all today, but not really,” he said of Pearsall when asked if he was concerned about the wideout’s injury, per 49ers Webzone. “I mean, they’re thinking more of like a minor PCL or something like that, is what our guess is. You know, just landing on it hard, so hopefully it won’t be too bad. Obviously, a huge concern with the Thursday Night game and stuff. We’re not expecting it to be too bad, but we’ve got to find out later today.”
Pearsall caught four passes for 46 yards on Sunday versus Jacksonville. Through four games, he has 327 receiving yards, which is fourth in the NFL, and his 16.4 yards per reception ranks sixth in the league.
The 49ers cannot afford to have Pearsall, or Jennings for that matter, out of action. Brandon Aiyuk, who was their leader in receiving yards in 2023, is still recovering from the severe knee injury he suffered last October, and tight end George Kittle will miss at least one more game with a hamstring ailment.
While their defense has been solid, their offense has sputtered at times, and their ground game has been very weak. They currently rank 31st in yards per rushing attempt and have yet to score a rushing touchdown.
Read more: Cowboys EVP Doesn’t Hold Back About Team’s Defensive Problems
After facing the Rams on Thursday, San Francisco will have nine full days of rest before it visits the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 12. It will then return to Levi’s Stadium to host the Atlanta Falcons the following Sunday.
For more on the 49ers and general NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
