San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy entered the season showing strong chemistry with wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. However, that momentum stalled when Purdy suffered a turf toe injury in Week 1, followed by Pearsall missing significant time due to a PCL injury sustained in Week 4.
Both players have returned to action over the last two games, but Pearsall has recorded just three catches for six yards since coming back. Purdy is confident those numbers will rise as the 49ers push through the final stretch of the season.
“I think we’re still just chipping away at it, not trying to hang our heads down or anything like that about the last two games,” Purdy said. “And obviously, I want to get Ricky the ball. He’s explosive, he’s dynamic. He’s a great teammate, a brother of mine. I want the best for him.
“So, it’s just about the opportunity that we get in the game. We’ve got to capitalize on it. I’ve got to continue to trust and rep the routes and plays together at practice, and then, I know that’ll carry over to the game. I have 100-percent faith that it’ll pick up.”
Where is Kendrick Bourne?
Pearsall’s return has significantly reduced the workload for another receiver—Kendrick Bourne. During Pearsall’s absence, Bourne averaged 51 offensive snaps per game. In the two games since Pearsall’s return, he has played just 19 total offensive snaps and has not been targeted by Purdy.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked whether Bourne’s reduced role is simply a matter of having too many mouths to feed or an effort to get wide receiver Demarcus Robinson more involved.
“No. It’s just Ricky was our starting Z, and when he went down, we moved K.B. to our starting Z,” Shanahan explained. “And when you’re a starter, usually, you get the ball a lot more, and you get to play a lot more. Ricky has pretty good stamina, so we don’t rotate him as much, and D-Rob’s done a good job owning our F role.
“So, it’s been nothing against K.B., but I don’t like that. I’d love to get him out there more than we have the last two weeks.”