49ers news: Ricky Pearsall’s practice window will open next week

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch spoke on KNBR Friday morning to provide a few injury updates.

Defensive tackle Jordan Elliott was a new addition to Thursday’s injury report, but it doesn’t sound like it was severe, per Lynch:

“He stepped on someone’s foot. I think the last period of practice, kind of rolled his ankle. We feel like we got some positive news on him. That probably wasn’t a typical cart situation, where it was more them just wanting to get him inside. So, we’ll see. We’ll call him questionable, I guess. I don’t know what our official, but a lot will be based on how he feels today. I think, long-term, we feel good about it.”

The defensive tackle depth consists of Maliek Collins, Kevin Givens, and Elliott. The 49ers are likely to elevate T.Y. McGill. We could also see Yetur Gross-Matos, or even Robert Beal Jr., play inside.

Earlier in the week, Kyle Shanahan discussed the 49ers potentially playing different fronts. That’s where Beal Jr., who played some defensive tackle snaps in the Super Bowl, could come into play.

The news is not as optimistic for special teams linebacker Curtis Robinson:

“Curtis, I think we’re a little worried, and that didn’t look good—non-contact deal. Curtis had worked his tail off. Really, a good contributor for us. So we’ll see where that goes. But the early signs weren’t good. I can tell you that.”

The one linebacker on the practice squad is DaShaun White. Other than that, there’s seventh-round rookie Tatum Bethune. Dee Winters was limited during Thursday’s practice, which leaves Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles as the only other linebacker you’d put on special teams.

Friday is an important practice for wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who has a chance to return sooner than expected. Lynch said Deebo “hit all the markers,” which is why he’s already back practicing: “The best athletes seem to heal at a little better rate.”

A healthy Deebo Samuel means there will be minimal if any, targets for Ronnie Bell. Not that was in the plans this week, but you could make a strong case the injury depth at wide receiver cost them a game this early in the season.

Speaking of wide receiver depth, Lynch said Ricky Pearsall’s practice window is expected to open next week. That doesn’t mean he’ll be ready to play in Week 5, but Pearsall is inching closer to a return:

“After this week we can open his practice window, and all signs are indicating that he’ll be okay to do that… Getting him back in practice will be a big deal, then we have a couple weeks where we can activate him or just keep him practicing. He’s doing really well, he’s put in the work, and he’s eager to get out there. He’s trending in a really good direction.”

Pearsall’s return is critical to the 49ers passing game in more ways than one. He gives them a viable option on the perimeter. That allows the offense to use Deebo Samuel in the same way they could Christian McCaffrey as a receiver.

Taking the field with Samuel in the backfield on passing downs, with Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, George Kittle, and Ricky Pearsall, brings the Niners’ offense close to Avenger mode.