The 49ers will be out a key piece on offense this Sunday without Jauan Jennings, but they will get a heroic replacement in Ricky Pearsall.
Kyle Shanahan said Friday afternoon that Ricky Pearsall, who was shot in the chest during a robbery attempt 48 days ago, would be activated off the non-football injury list and make his NFL debut against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Shanahan said Monday that it was unlikely Pearsall would be ready quickly enough for Sunday's game, but that it would depend on how he looked in practice. Well, he looked excellent in practice.
"He looked good on Monday," Shanahan said. "He looked even better on Wednesday... Thursday was even better."
Jennings, who suffered a hip injury, did not practice this week. Shanahan said his injury was not a factor in Pearsall being activated.
All that said, what about Pearsall's rust and inexperience. Shanahan couched his expectations.
"I know he'll get better as the year goes," Shanahan said. "So we understand that with our expectations and everything. Missing all the practice, missing some time, makes it harder, just schematically and everything, getting in and out of the huddle, but he's working his butt off to catch up. He's gotten better each day, and I know he'll get better each week."
Elsewhere, the 49ers will have Deebo Samuel and Jordan Mason. They will not have kicker Matthew Wright, who will go on injured reserve. Anders Carlson will be activated from the practice squad.
For the Chiefs, starting defensive end Mike Danna is out with a pectoral injury, while Juju Smith-Schuster (hamstring) is questionable but likely to play.