The San Francisco 49ers received two critical injury updates ahead of their Wild Card showdown, developments that could significantly shape how Sunday’s playoff battle unfolds against the Philadelphia Eagles.

One update brought a sense of relief inside the organization, stabilizing the foundation of the offense, while the other remains unresolved and threatens to alter the complexion of San Francisco’s passing attack.

With kickoff rapidly approaching, the 49ers are already operating with contingency plans, understanding that postseason football rarely allows time for indecision or optimism detached from medical reality.

Pearsall’s Status For The Wild Card Round

According to FOX NFL insider Jay Glazer, wide receiver Ricky Pearsall will be a true game time decision as he battles lingering knee and ankle injuries ahead of Sunday’s playoff opener.

The report offered little reassurance, emphasizing that Pearsall’s availability remains highly uncertain as the 49ers brace for the possibility of entering Philadelphia without one of their most explosive offensive weapons.

Pearsall did not practice at all during the week, a troubling sign in a postseason environment where limited reps often foreshadow limited availability on game day.

He was spotted working on a side field Thursday, but never participated in team drills, reinforcing concerns that his recovery timeline has not aligned with playoff urgency.

More concerning is the nature of the injury itself, as the PCL issue that sidelined Pearsall for six games earlier this season has resurfaced at the worst possible moment.

Knee stability issues rarely improve dramatically without rest, and playoff intensity only increases the risk of aggravation for a receiver reliant on burst and sharp route breaks.

In response, San Francisco acted decisively by activating wide receiver Malik Turner from the practice squad on Saturday, a move that suggests the team is preparing for Pearsall’s absence.

Turner has appeared in three games this season, contributing primarily on special teams, but his elevation signals that the coaching staff is leaving little to chance.

Roster moves this late in the week are rarely symbolic, and the timing strongly indicates that the 49ers view Pearsall’s status as genuinely questionable rather than precautionary.

What The 49ers Lose Without Pearsall

The consequences of playing without Pearsall were on full display in the Week 18 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, a game that exposed limitations within San Francisco’s passing structure.

Without Pearsall stretching the field, the 49ers’ offense became compressed, allowing opposing defenders to sit on short and intermediate routes without fear of vertical punishment.

Quarterback Brock Purdy did not attempt a single pass traveling more than ten yards downfield until the fourth offensive drive of that game.

Across the entire contest, Purdy attempted just five throws beyond ten yards, a stark contrast to San Francisco’s typical offensive rhythm.

That conservative passing profile sharply deviated from the weeks prior, when Pearsall’s presence allowed the offense to operate with balance and unpredictability.

In Week 17 against the Chicago Bears, Purdy attempted eleven passes beyond ten yards, including four throws traveling more than twenty yards.

The numbers were even more aggressive in Week 16, when Purdy attempted eighteen passes beyond ten yards, again pushing four throws past the twenty yard mark.

Those trends underscore Pearsall’s unique role within the offense, serving as the primary vertical stressor who forces safeties to retreat and linebackers to hesitate.

Pearsall leads San Francisco with eight receptions on passes thrown at least twenty yards downfield, a statistic that captures his impact beyond raw volume.

His ability to threaten defenses vertically opens space underneath for tight ends, slot receivers, and running backs to operate against softer coverage.

Against an Eagles defense known for physical press coverage and disciplined zone integrity, losing that vertical element could be devastating.

Philadelphia thrives when offenses become predictable, and San Francisco cannot afford to shrink the field in a playoff environment where margins are razor thin.

Without Pearsall, the 49ers risk becoming methodical rather than explosive, a dangerous proposition against a team built to punish mistakes.

Williams’ Return Changes Everything

Fortunately for San Francisco, Saturday morning delivered a far more encouraging update regarding All Pro left tackle Trent Williams.

Glazer reported that Williams is expected to play Sunday after being listed as questionable throughout the week due to a hamstring injury.

Williams practiced on a limited basis Friday, a critical indicator that the medical staff believes he can perform without severe risk of setback.

His injury occurred on the very first offensive snap of Week 17 against Chicago, forcing him out of the game and disrupting the offensive line’s cohesion.

Williams did not suit up in Week 18, and the impact was immediate and measurable.

Without him, the 49ers averaged just 2.8 yards per carry when running to the left side, a dramatic decline from their season long efficiency.

Against an Eagles defensive front that excels at winning at the point of attack, that drop off could have been catastrophic in a playoff setting.

Williams’ return restores balance to the run game and gives Purdy the blind side protection necessary to operate confidently from the pocket.

His presence allows San Francisco to utilize the full breadth of its offensive playbook, including deeper drops and longer developing routes.

The 49ers further demonstrated confidence in Williams’ availability by choosing not to elevate an offensive tackle from the practice squad on Saturday.

That decision strongly suggests the team expects Williams to handle a full workload rather than serve as a limited or emergency option.

Final Word Ahead Of Sunday

Sunday’s Wild Card matchup kicks off at 4:30 PM ET at Lincoln Financial Field, one of the league’s most hostile playoff environments.

The stakes are immense, with two Super Bowl caliber rosters colliding in a game that could hinge on just a handful of pivotal moments.

San Francisco will enter the contest knowing its most important offensive lineman is available, a stabilizing force that cannot be overstated.

Williams’ return provides the foundation for everything the 49ers want to do offensively, from controlling tempo to protecting Purdy in high leverage situations.

Yet the uncertainty surrounding Pearsall looms large, casting a shadow over the passing attack’s ceiling.

The difference between having Pearsall active and unavailable is not subtle, as Week 18 painfully demonstrated.

With him, the offense stretches defenses vertically and punishes single coverage. Without him, spacing compresses and options narrow.

Now the 49ers wait, hoping the extra rest was enough to push Pearsall across the finish line.

As the postseason begins, San Francisco knows exactly what is secure and what remains unresolved.

On Sunday, they will find out whether that uncertainty becomes a footnote or the defining storyline of their playoff run.