The 49ers have been ravaged by injuries this season. That’s what happens when you make it to the Conference Championship three years in a row, then lose in the Super Bowl when you get there. The gods became displeased and are trying to vanquish the 49ers from the playoff race.
Christian McCaffrey hasn’t played a single snap. George Kittle and Deebo Samuel have missed multiple games. Now Brandon Aiyuk has been lost for the season. Unfortunately, Samuel is dealing with pneumonia while Jauan Jennings, he of the three-touchdown game in Week 3, is dealing with a hip issue.
If there’s one man who can possibly defy the gods, that would be Ricky Pearsall, the legend who played 76% of the snaps in Week 7 after getting shot in the chest two months earlier. He caught three of seven targets for 21 yards and a first down in Week 7.
The 76% snap share was the highest among all wide receivers. Chris Conley played 70%, Ronnie Bell was in on 38% and Jacob Cowing received 19%.
Conley is 6-foot-2, 213 pounds and runs a 4.35 40. He’s 32 years old and has been in the league for 10 seasons. He has never exceeded 90 targets or 775 yards. His role is to expand defenses.
Bell is 6-foot, 191 yards and runs a 4.54 40. He was selected in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft. In two seasons with the 49ers, he’s received 18 targets and caught eight for 90 yards. He did haul in three touchdowns, but the 44.4% catch rate is gross.
Cowing is 5-foot-9, 171 pounds and runs a 4.38 40. He was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He’s primarily been the punt returner, but caught two of three targets for 50 yards in Week 7 on only seven routes run.
Pearsall was the first-round selection of the 49ers in the 2024 NFL Draft. He is 6-foot-1, 189 pounds and runs a 4.41 40. He should be the No. 1 wide receiver if both Samuel and Jennings are out.
But I’m not sure he’s a must-start in Week 8.
While the Cowboys’ pass defense has posted the sixth-worst Pass EPA, the unit has allowed the fourth-lowest success rate. The secondary is the strength of the Cowboys’ defense. The Cowboys’ run defense? It has been an absolute sieve, allowing the most Rush EPA by a wide margin.
San Francisco is 22nd in pass rate and Kyle Shanahan would likely lean on the run if multiple receivers are out. With the path of least resistance being via the run against the Cowboys, you best believe that he’s going to ground-and-pound them into submission.
If and when the 49ers do pass, the first option will likely be George Kittle. In addition, three of Pearsall’s catches in Week 7 were six-yard routes. The longest route he had was for 15 yards.
So, the 49ers pass rate would likely be muted if Samuel and/or Jennings are out. When they pass, Kittle would likely be the first read. And if Pearsall gets targeted, they will likely be low-impact ones against very good cornerbacks. That doesn’t scream must-start to me.
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