Jacob Cowing

This is ominous. Matt Maiocco’s follow-up report stated that Ricky Pearsall is dealing with the same PCL tear that plagued him last year. The 49ers believed it would fully heal with offseason rest, but their beleaguered medical staff were wrong. San Francisco must now determine whether Pearsall requires surgery to properly repair the ligament.

Pearsall, who boasts upper percentile athleticism and some tantalizing spike weeks, is tumbling down draft boards as lingering knee swelling threatens to derail a second straight season. With veteran Christian Kirk also sidelined after registering a paltry 6.7-percent Target Share last year, a bucket of targets in San Francisco are up for grabs.

Pearsall’s health concerns open the door for rookie De’Zhaun Stribling, who features a 100.4 Speed Score, to lock down No. 2 wideout duties and push for fantasy football FLEX consideration in 2026. For the first time, Stribling (WR59) has overtaken Pearsall (WR63) on PlayerProfiler’s Dynasty Rankings.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jacob Cowing emerged as an offseason standout by generating big plays downfield during team drills. Despite this momentum, his path to weekly targets remains blocked by a crowded depth chart after a rookie campaign featuring a 1.4-percent Target Share.

To start translating his elite prospect profile—highlighted by a 61.4-percent College Dominator Rating and a 36.8-percent College Target Share—into fantasy production, Cowing needs multiple injuries ahead of him on the depth chart. To that end, Ricky Pearsall has been incredible fragile since entering the NFL, gunshot wound notwithstanding, George Kittle is one of the most oft-injured tight ends, and Mike Evans is about to turn 33. The path for Cowing could clear, but his diminutive frame offers a Tutu Atwell-meets-Marquise Brown ceiling. Stash Cowing in the deepest fantasy football dynasty leagues, but he should not be drafted in best ball… yet.

It’s time for the NFL Divisional Round of the playoffs. It also means the latest in injury news to report before the teams release before gametime.

• Today, the No. 6 seed Buffalo Bills head to Mile High Stadium to face the top-seeded Denver Broncos. Josh Allen has many bumps and bruises ailing him, but he will be “full go” for the matchup, absent receivers Gabe Davis and Tyrell Shavers, who landed on the injured reserve last week, ending their season for an already-depleted wide receiver corps.
• Good news in that department came in the form of Curtis Samuel being activated from the list. He is active for the game and will jump right in as a weapon for Allen.
• Tight end Dalton Kincaid was limited all week (knee, calf) but has been playing through the injury of late. He will do so again on Saturday.
• Placekicker Matt Prater is good to go; it appears his quad injury is completely behind him.
• Running Back Ty Johnson (ankle) was only able to practice once this week, and on a limited basis. Expected to be the Bills’ No. 2 RB over Ray Davis. Johnson is officially out.
• The Denver Broncos have no notable injuries on the offensive side after a week of rest.

• The No. 6-seeded San Francisco 49ers will have to take on their rivals in Seattle without tight end George Kittle against the Seahawks.
• Wide receiver Jacob Cowing (IR) will not be activated before the game.
• Wideout Ricky Pearsall (PCL) is questionable and will be a game-time decision. Pearsall himself admitted a lack of explosiveness thanks to the injury but hopes to be on the field. Kyle Shanahan relayed that if he can play, there will be no snap count restrictions whatsoever.
• Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, already battling a quad injury, aggravated the injury in practice and was forced to cut the session short. Darnold maintains that he is “fine” and is “looking forward to being out there.” Seattle’s backup quarterback is Drew Lock.
• Wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba missed practice on consecutive days this week, but neither absence was injury-related.

6 Buffalo Bills (12-5) at 1 Denver Broncos (14-3) – 4:30 PM ET

6 San Francisco 49ers (12-5) at 1 Seattle Seahawks (14-3) – 8:00 PM ET – Update coming soon

Author: Samwise (@BuyAndSellYou)