Ricky Pearsall's chance of making NFL debut opens with Jauan Jennings news

The 49ers hope their wide receiver room can be boosted against the Chiefs by their top rookie draft pick if Jauan Jennings is ultimately unavailable.

Update: Kyle Shanahan told reporters Ricky Pearsall will be activated off the NFI list and will debut against the Chiefs on Sunday.

The San Francisco 49ers' situation at wide receiver in 2024 has played out like a docudrama, one that Hollywood would struggle to convince fans was actually believable.

One highlighted by Brandon Aiyuk's offseason-long contract-extension saga, reinforced by the emergence of tertiary wide receiver Jauan Jennings as a serious threat and led off by the relatively shocking first-round NFL Draft selection of rookie wideout Ricky Pearsall at No. 31 overall.

Pearsall's scary gunshot-wound injury stemming from an attempted robbery just prior to the start of the preseason only reinforced the nearly unfathomable situation the Niners have endured at the position.

Following a survival and near-miraculous recovery, Pearsall is nearing the point where he makes his NFL debut.

And it just so happens to coincide with when San Francisco could need him most.

Jauan Jennings injury opens up door for Ricky Pearsall debut

Pearsall is still on the non-football injury list, but his practice window has been opened. Meanwhile, Jennings is in danger of missing Week 7's highly anticipated contest against the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs because of a hip injury suffered in the previous week's victory over the Seattle Seahawks.

Unable to practice on the Wednesday and Thursday before the game, Jennings' status for Sunday's tilt is very much in doubt.

Considering KC is likely to feature plenty of man coverage against quarterback Brock Purdy and the 49ers offense, as it did in the Super Bowl last February, Purdy will want man-coverage beaters to serve as his primary targets.

While Aiyuk is a likely candidate, Jennings would have been favored, too, namely because of his size and strength in one-on-one matchups.

Pearsall, whose route-running tendencies suggest an uncanny ability to beat man coverage, could be a secondary X-factor.

Will Ricky Pearsall make his NFL debut in Week 7?

There are plenty of reasons to believe Pearsall will take the field for the first time in his pro career in Week 7, including comments from general manager John Lynch.

"Absolutely, there’s a chance," Lynch told KNBR 680 of Pearsall's prospects for playing on Sunday. "He’s had a good practice week."

Purdy, too, is looking forward to the moment when the rookie makes an impact.

"When you have a guy like Ricky that can win man-to-man matchups and also open up some other guys, too, it’s always a good thing," Purdy said, via NBC Sports Bay Area. "I’m excited to see what he does."

Considering those "man-to-man matchups" the Niners are likely to encounter on Sunday, having Pearsall available to at least be a presence is a potential blessing.

Sure, San Francisco would prefer having Jennings out there, too, especially in light of his monster game against Kansas City last February.

But, if Pearsall is made available and even makes a modest impact, it'll be just another storyline from what's already been a wild crop of storylines at wide receiver for the 49ers in 2024.

The Niners and Chiefs kick off on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 4:25 p.m. from Levi's Stadium.

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