49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall could make his debut against the Chiefs

The San Francisco 49ers were without wide receiver Jauan Jennings for the first two practices this week as he battles a hip injury.

In 2023, Jennings was one of the most productive receivers in the NFL against man coverage. He averaged 14.5 yards per reception, with nine of his 11 receptions resulting in first downs. Brock Purdy had a passer rating of 146.9 when targeting Jennings against man coverage – the third-highest rating in the NFL.

According to PFF, Jennings has caught six passes on five first downs for 11 scores this season. As a team, the Niners don't see as much man coverage. But that will change this Sunday.

The Kansas City Chiefs aren't hiding what they want to do on defense. Steve Spagnuolo wants to play man coverage. Until Week 5, when the Chiefs last played, only one team ran Cover 0 more than the Chiefs. They are a predominantly man coverage team and will sprinkle in quarters coverage, which generally transitions to man principles post-snap for the secondary.

San Francisco needs a wide receiver who can beat man coverage. Against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 6, Kyle Shanahan relied on Deebo Samuel on the most critical downs in the red zone. Samuel failed to take the lead, which led to field goals early in the game.

This season, Samuel has scored 11 goals against man coverage. He has four receptions for just 30 yards. Only one player in the NFL with double-digit targets against man coverage has fewer yards per route run than Deebo this season.

Ricky Pearsall makes an appearance.

It's been a long road for Pearsall, who returned to training last Monday for the first time since being shot in the chest on August 31. Pearsall reportedly did not have full mobility in his right arm and was unable to lift it above his head until last week.

Shanahan told the media Wednesday that Pearsall was out of breath after a two-minute drill. The players gave him a hard time after he was asked to leave the team, but it could be an indication of the lack of form the Niners' first-rounder is in.

If Jennings can't go – which most players under Shanahan have historically not done if they don't practice on Thursday – Pearsall would be a welcome addition, especially with Samuel still dealing with a wrist injury.

Purdy spoke Thursday about how Pearsall could help the offense, particularly in the red zone:

“He's doing a really good job, obviously back and just bringing the juice, getting in and out of his cuts really quickly and providing really good separation. And so of course we picked him in the first round and he has a lot of potential. And yeah, for him to come in and actually be a part of our offense, not just a young guy trying to learn his way but actually trying to make an impact pretty early, for me, I like it. It's another great option and another part of our offense.

So I think tomorrow we'll obviously go over our red zone plan and so on, but to answer your question, when you have a guy like Ricky who can win man-to-man duels and then open up others as well Guys too, that's always a good thing. So I’m excited to see what he does.”

In 2023, Brandon Aiyuk was in the top 4 in man coverage. This year he has received special attention, which has led to a decline in his numbers. The 49ers could use a wideout who can win 1-on-1, especially in the scoring zone. According to Purdy, that player could be Pearsall.

Pearsall thrived in college as a movement player and was a magnet for quarterbacks on third down. More than two-thirds of his receptions were for first downs or touchdowns at the University of Florida. In the red zone, when you're running out of space and the field is condensed, Pearsall's feel for zone coverage, his ability to win early on the route, and his sucker hands will be Purdy's best friend. Pearsall is also a tough opponent and can hold his own even after a big hit at close range.

The areas where Pearsall excels are exactly what the 49ers need from their wideouts in the red zone. Considering the Niners' current injuries at wide receiver and potential backups, it's not far-fetched to think Pearsall could make his debut this Sunday.

If the 49ers decide to play Pearsall, it would give the locker room a boost you can't quantify. After everything he's been through in the last few months, it's the ideal situation for everyone to bond together, and the situation makes too much sense.

If ever there was a team to beat, it's this Sunday's opponent, the 49ers.