Niners open practice window for Pearsall, but not McCaffrey

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – After a three-day break this weekend, the San Francisco 49ers return to practice on Monday with their first-round pick as they continue to wait for their star running back to do the same.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday that the Niners will open the 21-day practice window for receiver Ricky Pearsall on Monday, although they will not yet do the same for running back Christian McCaffrey.

Pearsall is on the non-football injured list after being shot during a suspected robbery in the Union Square area of ​​San Francisco on August 31. McCaffrey landed on the injured list on September 14 due to persistent Achilles tendonitis. Both players are eligible to return leading up to the Super Bowl LVIII rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 20, but McCaffrey isn't quite ready yet, Shanahan said.

“It continues to improve, but we won’t be opening it (next) week,” Shanahan said.

The Niners were technically able to open Pearsall's practice window before the Oct. 6 game against the Arizona Cardinals. But they decided against it in part because they had a short week of practice before Thursday night's game against the Seattle Seahawks and wanted to give Pearsall full weeks of work upon his return. Players who come off the injured list receive a three-week training period during which they can be activated at any time.

According to Shanahan, it's too early to say when the Niners will do that with Pearsall.

“Most likely I would assume there would be a longer ramp-up time, but I think as far as his health and everything else, he's absolutely ready to go,” Shanahan said. “I really won't decide that until we start watching him train, but we won't rush it or anything. If he’s ready, he’s ready, and if he’s not, we’ve got a few weeks.”

According to the San Francisco Police Department, Pearsall was shot in the chest after a 17-year-old high school student from nearby Tracy, California, attempted to rob him, leading to a fight between the two. The bullet exited Pearsall's back and missed vital organs, allowing for a quick recovery that Niners general manager John Lynch called “really, truly miraculous.”

The Niners placed Pearsall on the non-football injured list on Sept. 2, vowing not to rush Pearsall so he could recover physically, mentally and emotionally. Since then, Pearsall has been with the team at the facility every day and has been seen practicing at practice.

McCaffrey's status remains uncertain. Sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter last week that McCaffrey had no seizures in his first week on the field and that there was “some mild encouragement” for that progress.

With Shanahan McCaffrey ruling out opening his practice window next week, the earliest he could return is before the Oct. 27 game against the Dallas Cowboys. After that, the Niners also have their bye, followed by a game on November 10th at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. McCaffrey was recently spotted in the dressing room after visiting Germany last month to see a specialist.