Quarterback Brock Purdy and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall returned to action on Sunday, both coming off injuries. Purdy has been sidelined since Week 4 due to a turf toe aggravation, while Pearsall has not played since the same week because of a PCL injury.
Both players appear to have emerged from their returns in good health. Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that Purdy and Pearsall are expected to be full-go for Thursday's practice as the 49ers prepare for their Monday night matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
When asked about the expectations for Purdy this week, Shanahan said, "I'm expecting a full-go guy who gets better each week."
Regarding Pearsall, Shanahan was asked if he saw what he wanted from the second-year wideout during the game.
"We saw what we wanted to see from him last Wednesday," Shanahan said. "He looked like a healthy Ricky, which is why he probably didn't have pain hitting those GPS numbers, and why I thought he looked real good in the game."
He added, "I thought Ricky was awesome last week, and I expect him to be the same, if not better, this week."
The following players will not practice on Thursday:
- DE Robert Beal Jr. (concussion)
- LB Tatum Bethune (ankle)
- K Eddy Piñeiro (right hamstring)
Bethune had been filling in for injured linebacker Fred Warner as a starter and is expected to miss time. Shanahan confirmed that Curtis Robinson will start in Bethune's absence.
The following player will be a limited practice participant:
- LB Luke Gifford (hip, neck)
Fred Warner playoff outlook
Questions remain about whether Fred Warner, who is on injured reserve after suffering a dislocated and fractured right ankle, could potentially be ready for the playoffs—assuming the 49ers both make the postseason and advance past the Wild Card round.
Shanahan provided an honest assessment of the possibility.
"I haven't asked that," Shanahan said. "I don't think so, but I haven't asked that. I'm sure it's (his recovery) going awesome. Fred works as hard as anyone on the planet, so it's going great."
He added that he didn't immediately have a definitive timeline for Warner's recovery—because he tends to prioritize the weekly injury statuses—but said he would check with the training staff to provide reporters with an update.