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The San Francisco 49ers head into Saturday’s divisional round matchup with the Seattle Seahawks momentum building in an unexpected area.
The injury report.
San Francisco has dealt with absences all season, navigating a roster that has rarely been whole. But Wednesday’s practice offered clarity on two of the most significant names still working back from injury.
The 49ers will need every available weapon to keep pace.
Ricky Pearsall Looks Ready to Return
Ricky Pearsall was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice, but his movement on the field told a different story.
Pearsall was moving well, and observers noted he looked comfortable changing direction and getting in and out of breaks without any visible hesitation. The limitations that kept him out the previous two weeks appeared to be behind him.
His return would stabilize San Francisco’s receiver depth at a critical moment.
Pearsall had 108 yards in Week 1 against Seattle. In the final two games he played during the regular season, he posted 96 and 85 receiving yards. In those three outings, he saw at least seven targets each time. The trust between him and Brock Purdy has been obvious, and his presence allows the offense to operate with its three best receivers on the field.
Fred Warner Returns to Practice
Fred Warner was listed as a limited participant Wednesday.
That alone would have been notable. But what stood out most was how he looked on the field.
Warner has returned to practice fewer than 100 days after his injury, and video from the session showed him moving well. He looked like someone who could suit up this weekend.
“Feels like I never left,” Warner said.
The timeline is remarkable. When Warner went down, the expectation was that his season was over. Instead, he is back on the practice field, working through benchmarks and has the possibility of playing meaningful football in January.
“I think obviously when all this happened, I didn’t really think about the possibility of returning in season,” Warner said. “But the way things progressed and being able to have this opportunity to be back with my teammates and have a chance at helping them win this week and so on and so forth, that’s my only goal going forward.”
Why Saturday’s Matchup Carries Everything for the 49ers
San Francisco enters the Divisional Round as clear underdogs.
The winner advances to the NFC Championship Game with a chance at the Super Bowl. The loser goes home.
Seattle finished as the 1 seed and enters Saturday rested after a first-round bye. The 49ers, meanwhile, just came through a grueling Wild Card Round. The last time these teams met, Seattle won comfortably, 13-3. That result still lingers.
But the injury updates shift the context.
If Pearsall returns and Warner has an outside chance of suiting up, the 49ers will field their most complete roster in weeks. Williams practicing without limitations only adds to that foundation. That does not guarantee a win, but it does shift the odds in San Francisco’s favor.
Final Word for the 49ers
The injury news continues to trend in San Francisco’s favor. Ricky Pearsall is moving well. Fred Warner is back on the practice field. Trent Williams is practicing without limitations.
The odds still favor Seattle. The 1 seed rarely loses at home in the Divisional Round. But the 49ers head into the weekend with more clarity than they had 48 hours ago.
And in a game with these stakes, that matters.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
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