#ricky-pearsall

#ricky-pearsall

SANTA CLARA Ricky Pearsall Jr. hasn't hit top-end speed since late September but said Wednesday he was optimistic about playing for the 49ers Saturday night when they visit the Seattle Seahawks. Fred Warner is probably a week away meaning the sixth-seeded 49ers (13-5) will have to beat the No. 1 Seahawks (14-3) in an NFL divisional playoff game (Fox, 5 p.m.) for him to complete an improbable in-season comeback from a broken and dislocated right ankle sustained on Oct. 12.

SANTA CLARA - The 49ers' plan at wide receiver this season was draped in maroon and gold. The Niners were supposed to ride into this postseason on the backs of two Arizona State products, a Tempe two-step atop the wide receiver depth chart designed to torment defensive coordinators from Seattle to Philadelphia. Brandon Aiyuk (Arizona State 2018-19) was the established star, the alpha, the $30-million man.