SANTA CLARA – Ricky Pearsall deployed a nifty double transfer to make arguably the 49ers’ greatest catch final recreation.
His third-and-long conversion ignited a scoring drive simply earlier than halftime in Cleveland, and the 49ers would rating the sport’s last 19 factors in a 26-8 win on Nov. 30. However neither that catch nor any of Pearsall’s 25 receptions this season have produced touchdowns.
The 49ers may require higher manufacturing from Pearsall and different broad receivers this Sunday towards Tennessee, seeing how working again Christian McCaffrey is anticipated to play by an sickness.
“When you start worrying about other things, that’s when you can drive yourself nuts. I try not to do that,” Pearsall stated. “I attempt to know what I can management and that’s being obtainable once I can for Brock, displaying up on these third downs once I can, and making performs after they come my method to assist this group win.
“Ultimately when we see a ‘W’ on the board, that’s all that matters. I don’t care about the stats or whatever.”
Coach Kyle Shanahan echoed that stance, including that he doesn’t personally give receivers votes of confidence until the media is hounding them, and as for Pearsall, Shanahan stated: “No need for me to explain anything. He understands it.”
Jauan Jennings accounts for all 5 touchdowns amongst 49ers broad receivers this season, the identical quantity as working again Christian McCaffrey and tight finish George Kittle because the 49ers (9-4) enter Sunday’s recreation towards the Tennessee Titans (2-11).
That’s not serving to anybody overlook Brandon Aiyuk’s season-long absence.
Pearsall’s sophomore season began with 100-yard efforts in two of the primary three video games. Then got here a knee damage in Week 4 that shelved him for six video games. In three video games since his return, he’s produced: one catch for no acquire, two catches for six yards, two catches for 14 yards.
“Being a receiver, sometimes the ball doesn’t come your way,” Pearsall stated. “There are different coverages that have to be right. He’s got to be able to see you. You have to beat your defender. There are a bunch of variables that go into being open, getting the ball thrown to you and making a play. … I’ve just got to stay ready.”
The roster’s different 4 receivers can relate. Up to now three video games coinciding with Brock Purdy’s return, Demarcus Robinson has their solely different two receptions, whereas Kendrick Bourne and Skyy Moore have been shut out, and rookie Jordan Watkins has been inactive.
A yr faraway from a critical knee damage, Aiyuk has stayed away this season, together with from this week’s group photograph.
“At this point, it doesn’t seem like he’s coming back,” Kittle stated. “I try my best not to think about it. I love Brandon. … I wish he was here. It kind of just makes me sad, so I just push it to the side. Look, we have to make due with what we have in the locker room, and the guys that want to be here are here.”
Kittle famous the 49ers’ thrived, particularly within the run recreation, when Aiyuk paired with Jennings as bodily, down-field blockers. As for Aiyuk’s receiving capability, Kittle remembers how “he can run 22 mph then stop on a dime, then jump 40 inches with a freakishly long wing span and catch any ball you throw to him. That by itself puts him in a class of his own. That’s why you paid him $30 million (a year).”
The 49ers, nonetheless, voided Aiyuk’s 2026 ensures of $27 million again in July, reportedly for failing to abide by their rehabilitation plan. Purdy, whereas declining to stray into Aiyuk’s off-field enterprise, nonetheless extremely regards his on-field presence, or what it was.
“Aiyuk is, he’s a baller, he makes plays. In man-to-man matchups, he does a great job of creating separation and he’s an explosive player,” Purdy stated. “You get the ball in his hands and he can go get YAC and bring juice to the offense when he is in and run blocking. Aiyuk has so many clips of getting in and blocking linebackers and safeties and corners and running down field with a running back and blocking guys. Like, he did it all at receiver.”
LINEBACKER OUTLOOK
Curtis Robinson is poised to begin his third straight recreation at center linebacker rather than Tatum Bethune, who stays out with a high-ankle sprain. Each have tried masking for All-Professional Fred Warner, who required right-ankle surgical procedure nearly two months in the past.
“Curtis is no different than all of them in terms of size, length, foot speed, all that stuff,” defensive coordinator Robert Saleh stated. “He just happens to be really good at calling the defense, and he creates a calm in there.”
Robinson has 9 tackles over his two mixed begins, after 12 within the Nov. 16 win at Arizona the place Bethune bought damage.
INJURY REPORT
Out are defensive linemen Sam Okuayinonu (ankle) and Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring; injured reserve); linebackers Tatum Bethune (ankle) and Nick Martin (concussion); and quarterback Kurtis Rourke (reserve/non-football-injury listing). Bethune and fellow linebacker Nick Martin (concussion) ran on the facet however didn’t observe this week, nor did current practice-squad addition Eric Kendricks (calf).
The Titans dominated out solely cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (Achilles) however listed three offensive linemen as questionable: heart Lloyd Cushenberry (foot), left deal with Dan Moore (neck), and guard Kevin Zeitler (groin; didn’t observe Friday). Additionally questionable are defensive finish C.J. Ravenell (toe) and linebacker James Williams (sickness).
SALEH’S PROSPECTS
The Titans are available in the market for a brand new coach, with Mike McCoy serving as an interim coach since Brian Callahan’s firing. Shanahan is bracing for Robert Saleh, his defensive coordiantor, to depart for a head-coach publish like 4 years in the past with the New York Jets.
Saleh returned this yr after rebuffing provides elsewhere. “Robert had a lot of opportunity to be a D-coordinator. (The Raiders) was definitely one of them, and he got close to a couple of head-coach jobs,” Shanahan stated. “He was definitely our first choice and he said we were his. I’m glad he kept his word, or we’d have beef. I hope for us he’s not a head coach next year. But when you have the talent Robert does, it’s a matter of time.”
JENNINGS’ CHIT-CHAT
It’s been practically two weeks since Jennings enraged a number of Browns defenders with in-game feedback, sparking debate over whether or not he crossed private traces.
“There’s a line you don’t cross and I don’t think he crossed the line,” tight finish George Kittle recalled. “Individuals have stated completely loopy issues to me on a discipline and I’ve stated, You shouldn’t say that, I’m mic’d up.’ I don’t assume what Jauan stated was loopy.
“When he gets chirped, he chirps back. One thing I really respect is he’s never thrown a punch. The only penalties he’s gotten is when other guys jump him. … He’s done a really good job of mouthing off to an extent without ever getting a penalty. That’s part of the game.”
