The San Francisco 49ers’ injury bug continues and has entered Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season, with seven inactive players. On Thursday, Oct. 2, coach Kyle Shanahan‘s 49ers are taking on coach Sean McVay’s LA Rams in away territory, SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Unfortunately for coach Shanahan and the rest of the 49ers, they still have a significant list of injured players, including standout quarterback Brock Purdy and wide receivers Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall. Pearsall was ruled out of the Thursday game after their five-point loss, 26-21, to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Sept. 28.
Given that Thursday is the first time in the ripe season that Pearsall won’t be able to suit up for coach Shanahan and the 49ers, the latter will have to explore other options to fill the void that he has left. Considering that his fellow wide receiver, Jennings, is also out, it was reported that coach Shanahan has elected to utilize five-year veteran Malik Turner from the practice squad.
Turner is a 29-year-old wide receiver who has now been given an opportunity to become a mainstay in the 49ers’ game plan. This is because the last time Turner was a key rotation piece in an NFL roster was back in 2021 for the Dallas Cowboys. Since then, he has had stints as an offseason and in-season practice player for the Las Vegas Raiders, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Michigan Panthers, and now, San Francisco.
Only time will tell when Pearsall and Jennings return. Till then, Turner could provide a steady spark for the 49ers with the experience of playing under different systems. Whatever the case may be, coach Shanahan and his staff will take a close look at how Turner fits into the system against the Rams.
Read More: NFL Draft Rumors: 49ers Could Pick Travis Hunter To Suit Both Kyle Shanahan and Robert Saleh
Ricky Pearsall’s Knee Injury Doesn’t Look Serious
Ricky Pearsall’s injury is not serious, as it was reported that he suffered a minor PCL injury after a hard fall during the Week 4 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Perhaps the ruling out was a precautionary measure, with the San Francisco 49ers opting not to risk a long-term injury. Several reports indicate that Pearsall will return in no time as one of the premier receivers of the league.
Ricky Pearsall #49ers
Landed hard on his knee here. Came into the game with a knee injury. In the medical tent, hope he can return pic.twitter.com/Lc5QMhxuI0
— Tom Christ, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT (@FantasyInjuryT) September 28, 2025
The third-year player aims to return in Week 6 of the 2025 NFL season when the 49ers take on the mighty Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Also Read: NFL Fantasy Football Injury Tracker Week 2: All We Know About Key Stars’ Status Ft. Austin Ekeler, Jayden Reed, and More
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, basketball, and more!
