SANTA CLARA — Brock Purdy seems destined to miss his second straight game, and so might Ricky Pearsall.
The NFC West-leading 49ers resumed practicing Wednesday without either offensive star ahead of Sunday’s visit to NFC South leader Tampa Bay (4-1).
Purdy is progressing enough from his Week 1 turf toe that the 49ers are not putting him on Injured Reserve, coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday. But Purdy’s absence for potentially a second straight week from practice puts Mac Jones in line to make his second straight start and fourth this season.
As for Pearsall, Shanahan said: “We were hoping last week he’d be able to practice this week. … We’ll see if that turns tomorrow or Friday but I’m not counting on it right now.”
While Pearsall remains out, so are fellow wide receivers Jauan Jennings (rib, ankle) and Jordan Watkins (calf) and defensive linemen Alfred Collins (knee), Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring), Robert Beal (ankle). Resting as usual on Wednesday are left tackle Trent Williams and running back Christian McCaffrey.
Jones was to be limited, along with cornerback Upton Stout (ankle) and defensive linemen C.J. West (hand), Kalia Davis (hand) and Kevin Givens (pectoral).
Pearsall has been sidelined since the Sept. 28 loss to Jacksonville, in which he landed hard on his right knee on a third-quarter play. He had appeared in 15 consecutive games after sitting out the first six last season while recovering from a gunshot wound through his chest.
Pearsall’s 20 catches for 327 yards are the most among the ever-changing corps of wide receivers. Running back Christian McCaffrey has 39 catches for 387 yards and three touchdowns, the latter of which are tied for the team lead with tight end Jake Tonges.
Jennings has missed two of the past three games, the last one because of a rib injury. After missing most of camp with a calf issue and a contract dispute, Jennings has totaled just nine receptions for 129 yards and a touchdown; he had five catches for 89 yards and that score in the Week 2 win at New Orleans.
Jones’ most popular target Thursday night was Kendrick Bourne, who had 10 catches (one drop) for 142 yards. Demarcus Robinson has four catches (59 yards) in two games, and return specialist Skyy Moore has one catch for 10 yards.
IR WINDOWS
Still on Injured Reserve is tight end George Kittle, who’s activation window has yet to be opened, unlike safety Malik Mustapha’s on Monday and Givens’ on Wednesday. “Hopefully we’ll have a chance for Kittle next week. Just a chance,” Shanahan said.
YOUNG TALKS QBs
While some think a quarterback controversy is brewing, there’s no greater authority in NFL history than Steve Young, who calls the 49ers’ situation “absolutely positive.”
Young believes Purdy and Jones are such likeable figures that there is no “toxic tension” and instead “creative tension,” which can be awkward but also get the best out of the position.
“The team can rally for both right now and it won’t cause a huge problem in the locker room,” Young said on KNBR 680-AM. “Right now, creative tension is a positive and everybody can rally. Brock’s done plenty for people to rally around and believe. And Mac is now doing that.
“For the 49ers if step away from the quarterback room and zoom out, this amazingly positive. We’re getting people that are inspiring us,” Young said of the 4-1 start. “The players are excited and energized, and we don’t have our main guy in there. That’s amazing that’s happening. That’s money in the bank. How it gets worked out, that’s the creative tension and you have to grind it out.”
Young arrived in 1987 via a trade from the Buccaneers and eventually succeeded Joe Montana, who won the 49ers’ first four Super Bowls and got traded in 1993 to Kansas City. Added Young: “I lived a lot of creative tension through the years, and I can say I look back and say: You know what the 49ers got? The best out of both of us.”
PINEIRO’S PRIZE
Kicker Eddy Piñeiro is the NFC Special Teams Player, after going 4-for-4 on field-goal attempts against the Rams, including a 59-yarder that was the second-longest in team history and a 41-yarder in overtime that provided the winning points.
Piñeiro has made all 11 of his field-goal attempts and six point-after kicks after missing his initial one in Week 2 as Jake Moody’s successor.
Bucs kicker Chase McLaughlin made a 2019 cameo with the 49ers, infamously missing an overtime kick against Seattle in their first loss after an 8-0 start to the 2019 season. McLaughlin is 12-of-15 on field-goal attempts (including a 65-yard make against Philadlephia) and 11-of-12 on point-after kicks this season.
D-LINEMAN’S ENCORE
Defensive tackle Bruce Hector, who spent three weeks in 49ers training camp, was signed to the practice squad. Safety Jaylen Mahoney was released from it in a corresponding move.
Hector worked out Tuesday along with defensive linemen Tommy Akingbesote, Shakel Brown, Michael Dwumfour, Jonathan Garvin, Jah Joyner, and DeMarcus Walker.