SANTA CLARA — The big news on Tuesday in Santa Clara was Fred Warner’s practice window being opened, but there was another notable 49ers return.
After missing two games due to an aggravation of a PCL injury, Ricky Pearsall returned to the practice field. The wide receiver previously had been seen running on a side field under the close supervision of the team’s medical staff during his time away from the field.
If Pearsall can stay healthy this week, he would provide another reliable weapon for quarterback Brock Purdy in the team’s NFC Divisional Round Game against the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday at Lumen Field.
The wide receiver group has been without the talented route runner for several games this season after his injury originally occurred in Week 4. Pearsall returned seven weeks later but has been in and out of the lineup since.
Pearsall brings depth to the room that has relied on Jauan Jennings, Demarcus Robinson and Kendrick Bourne to hold down the fort.
There also was good news for Dee Winters, who originally was listed as not being able to practice by coach Kyle Shanahan during his press conference earlier in the day. The linebacker was a limited participant on the official practice report.
The news isn’t as good for linebacker Luke Gifford, who sat out of the first practice of the 49ers’ shortened week due to a quad injury that kept him out of their NFC wild-card win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Both Gifford and Winters were seen working out on the field pregame but were not deemed healthy enough to play.
Eric Kendricks and Garret Wallow could again end up as San Francisco’s healthiest linebacker options on Saturday. Shanahan has been impressed with how quickly the pair has assimilated into the defensive scheme.
“Those guys played at such a high level, and that’s what we need,” Shanahan said. “We’ve had a lot of guys injured, so guys have to come in and step it up and we’ll see how our team is this week. Some of those guys are still injured, so we’re not sure how the week will go, but based off how those guys did last week, it definitely gives you a lot more confidence going into the game.”
Shanahan shared that linebacker Nick Martin remains in the league’s concussion protocol.
Due to the shortened week, practice was not open to the media at any point on Tuesday.
49ers practice report
Not practicing
S Ji’Ayir Brown (hamstring)
LB Luke Gifford (quad)
Limited
LB Dee Winters (ankle)
OL Dominick Puni (ankle)
DL Keion White (groin/hamstring)
WR Ricky Pearsall (knee)
DL Yetur Gross-Matos (knee)
LT Trent Williams (hamstring/rest)
Full participation
WR Jacob Cowing (hamstring)
Seahawks practice report
Not practicing
T Josh Jones (knee)
LB Tyrice Knight (shoulder)
Limited
LB DeMarcus Lawrence (Achilles)
WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (not injury related/resting player)
LB Chazz Surratt (ankle)
DT Leonard Williams (not injury related/resting player)
CB Riq Woolen (oblique)
Full participation
TE Elijah Arroyo (knee)
TE AJ Barner (hip)
S Coby Bryant (knee)
T Charles Cross (hamstring)