San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan declared wide receiver Ricky Pearsall will start training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. On the heels of a full recovery, this move is an unpredictable step back. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said in the offseason that he expected Pearsall to be ready by the time camp opens. This new development raises major alarm bells about his readiness heading into the 2023 season.
Nick Wagoner, one of the best NFL reporters on the planet and at ESPN, had this to say about it today. He noted Pearsall’s recent placement on the PUP list is symbolic of a greater movement occurring with the 49ers. The team wrapped up the 2024 season with one of the most battered rosters in the league. With training camp just around the corner, many would be starters and key players are already in the process of recovering from some serious maladies.
Pearsall isn’t the only player being penalized for unfortunate circumstances. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is another doing everything possible to return from a torn ACL that ended his rookie season in Week 7 last year. His status for the beginning of the regular season remains unclear. This added uncertainty makes the forthcoming change that much more challenging for the coaching staff’s offensive game plan as they look ahead to the opening matchups.
The 49ers will open training camp with six players on the active/PUP List. Here, too, we see this scenario is a reflection of these continued injury woes on the roster. Two players will begin camp on the active/non-football injury (NFI) list: Ben Bartch and George Odum. It makes depth and resilience a premium among the few players that remain. They have to do all of that while competing at a high level during the duration of camp and into the season.
Wagoner has been doing that for the San Francisco 49ers since 2016. He’s led the charge for ESPN’s coverage during critical moments, such as their Super Bowl runs in 2019 and 2023. His coverage is key for fans to understand the players and the team as they work their way through the challenges of injury.
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