49ers counting on Pearsall after slew of wide receiver injuries

Programming Note: Watch "49ers Now" with Matt Maiocco and Jennifer Lee Chan at 4 p.m. PT today from Santa Clara, streaming live on the NBC Sports app. Watch the show later on YouTube and Facebook. SANTA CLARA - The first pass Brock Purdy threw Ricky Pearsall's way whizzed past his ear as the 49ers' rookie receiver was turning to look for his quarterback. "It was just a communication error," Pearsall said on Wednesday, three days after he made his NFL debut against the Kansas City Chiefs. "Obviously, we haven't had many reps at that together, being out. I was a few yards too deep. I can cut that a little shorter, and the ball would've been right on my chest." Pearsall is trying to make up for a lot of lost time on the practice field, as he and Purdy work on building chemistry. The 49ers planned for Pearsall to be eased back into the action — just 50 days after he sustained a gunshot wound to his right chest. But Pearsall ended up playing 48 snaps (76 percent of the team's offensive plays) with the team's top three wide receivers out of action. "He did a good job adjusting in the game," 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. "He went into the game playing only one spot and a couple...