San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall missed another practice on Thursday and hasn't played or practiced since Week 4. After more than a month on the sidelines, it appears increasingly unlikely that the second-year wideout will suit up this weekend against the New York Giants.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan joined Bay Area radio station KNBR on Thursday and discussed the process of determining when a player is ready to return after an extended absence. Shanahan admitted that missing multiple weeks adds a layer of difficulty to that decision.
"When a guy's missed a month or three games in a row [and can't practice], then it's never a consideration whether he can go on Sunday," Shanahan explained, speaking generally about all players. "I mean, if a guy's missed that long, he's got to get back into practice and give himself and everyone else the confidence that he's okay and can be good by Sunday."
Shanahan went on to differentiate between players dealing with short-term injuries and those who have missed a significant amount of time.
"Now, if a guy's been playing, and he just got hurt in Sunday's [game], and he wasn't healthy enough to go on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, then there's a decision to be made," Shanahan said. "What's this guy's history? Has he done this before? When he says he's going to be good to go on Sunday, is he going to be good to go? Is he going to be able to last in the game? Do the doctors say he won't re-injure it? And is he a guy that can go on a Sunday without three days of practice?
"But anytime it's been a guy who's been missing a week or multiple weeks, if they don't get the practice in, then it's not an option to play him."
That approach suggests Pearsall will likely remain sidelined this Sunday as the 49ers aim to rebound from their loss to the Houston Texans and improve their record to 6-3.
Pearsall has recorded 20 receptions for 327 yards through four game appearances in 2025.