The San Francisco 49ers announced the following roster moves ahead of Sunday's showdown with the Kansas Chiefs:
- K Matthew Wright has been placed on IR (injured reserve)
- Rookie WR Ricky Pearsall has been activated from the Reserve/NFI (non-football injury list)
- K Anders Carlson has been activated from the team's practice squad (standard elevation)
- S Jaylen Mahoney has also been activated for Sunday's game (standard elevation)
Pearsall, the 49ers first-round draft pick, has not yet been active for a game this season. After missing much of training camp, and all of the preseason, with a shoulder injury, the rookie wide receiver was shot in the chest six weeks ago during a robbery attempt. Pearsall is fortunate to be alive, and now he will make his NFL debut. With WR Jauan Jennings ruled out with a hip injury, the 49ers may need Pearsall to pick up the slack.
Carlson will be making his 49ers debut, as well. The second-year kicker out of Auburn played for the Green Bay Packers as a rookie. The former sixth-round pick finished 2023 connecting on 27 out of 33 attempts (81.8%). He also missed five extra-point attempts (87.2%).
Fans may remember Carlson as the kicker who missed a field goal in the Divisional Playoff Game against the 49ers. His touchback rate in 2023 was only 43%, which doesn't bode well for a struggling kick coverage team. Carlson will be filling in for an injured Wright, who was filling in for an injured Jake Moody.
Mahoney has appeared in two games this season. He has two tackles on special teams. With injuries to fellow safeties Talanoa Hufanga and Malik Mustapha, the 49ers are thin at the position and will lean on the rookie safety to help, especially on special teams.