San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan on Saturday delivered some bad news when he issued the team’s Week 16 injury report after their final practice of the week.
Shanahan said wide receiver Ricky Pearsall and cornerback Renardo Green will be both be out against the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night. This is a brutal blow in a game the 49ers need to win to continue controlling their own path to the NFC’s No. 1 seed and a Round 1 bye in the playoffs.
Pearsall is dealing with ankle and knee issues lingering from a pair of injuries he suffered in San Francisco’s Week 15 win. He hurt his ankle early in the game and later aggravated the knee injury he sustained in Week 4. He didn’t practice throughout the week and won’t make the trip to Indianapolis in hopes of getting enough rehab in to be ready in Week 17 when the 49ers host the Chicago Bears.
Green has a neck issue and was limited Thursday and Friday. The issue didn’t improve so the 49ers’ starting outside cornerback opposite Deommodore Lenoir will be out. Darrel Luter Jr. is the likely starter in his place.
Shanahan also indicated LB Nick Martin will be heading to IR while he continues to deal with lingering symptoms from a concussion he suffered back in Week 13. That will open a roster spot, which could go to defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos whose practice window opened ahead of Week 15 as he works his way back from a hamstring injury.
Here’s the full injury report Shanahan issued in his press conference:
OutWR Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle)CB Renardo Green (neck)QB Kurtis Rourke (knee)QuestionableDL Yetur Gross-Matos (knee)Not listedDE Sam Okuayinonu (ankle)LB Tatum Bethune (ankle)DL Jordan Elliott (knee)LB Dee Winters (wrist)
More 49ers: Why 49ers won on Thursday night despite not playing until Monday