Live 49ers updates: Seahawks strike early with kick return TD

See our live updates from Saturday’s game at the bottom of this story…

Ricky Pearsall Jr. is back in uniform and active for the 49ers’ NFL divisional playoff game today against the Seattle Seahawks.

Also active is Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold, who was late getting out for warmups with fellow quarterbacks Drew Lock and Jalen Milroe.

Inactives for the 49ers included safety Ji’Ayir Brown, a starting safety who missed practice all week with a hamstring strain. He’ll be replaced by Marques Sigle, a rookie who had eight tackles in 40 snaps in the 49ers’ wild-card win over Philadelphia.

Aside from Pearsall, players who are active include linebacker Luke Gifford, who missed the wildcard win over Philadelphia with a quad injury, and starting linebacker Dee Winters, who also missed the game with an ankle injury.

Other inactives were running back Isaac Guerendo, wide receiver Jordan Watkins, defensive lineman Brandon Beal Jr., defensive lineman Kevin Givens, tackle Brandon Parker and defensive lineman Sebastian Valdez.

Parker and Valdez were both practice squad promotions who get a pay bump as active roster players, rewarding them for practice performance.

Darnold didn’t practice Thursday after an oblique strain and didn’t practice Friday either. He has not missed a game due to injury in each of the last two years.

Pearsall, who was on the field and with the team during warmups, said during the week he was optimistic about playing while at the same time conceding he hasn’t run at full speed since Week 4 of the regular season when he sustained his knee injury against Jacksonville.

In nine games this season, Pearsall has 36 receptions for 528 yards. His rookie season as a first-round draft pick out of Florida got off to a slow start after suffering a gunshot wound during a robbery attempt at Union Square on Aug. 31, 2024. In 20 games over two seasons, Pearsall has 67 catches for 928 yards and three touchdowns.

Before being injured this season, Pearsall had four receptions for 107 yards in a 22-17 win over Seattle, including a 45-yard sideline reception that helped the 49ers to the winning score. He had eight catches for 117 yards in a Week win over Arizona. In the 49ers’ 42-38 win over the Bears, Pearsall had eight receptions for 85 yards but reinjured his knee and missed the last two games.

Inactive players for Seattle were Milroe, linebacker Jared Ivey, guard/tackle Josh Jones, tackle/guard Mason Richman, defensive end Rylie Mills and guard Bryce Cabeldue.

Raiders, Steelers consider Klay Kubiak

Klay Kubiak, highly praised by coach Kyle Shanahan,will reportedly interview with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Las Vegas Raiders for their vacant head coaching positions Sunday.

Kubiak, 37, is the brother of Klint Kubiak, the Seattle offensive coordinator whose name is also making the rounds for the eight current vacancies throughout the NFL. The brothers are the sons of Gary Kubiak, the head coach of the Houston Texans from 2006-13 and the Denver Broncos from 2014-15. Gary Kubiak was the winning head coach for Denver in Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium.

Klay Kubiak is one of eight known candidates who were asked to interview with the Steelers to replace 19-year head coach Mike Tomlin. The Raiders have reportedly reached out to 13 different candidates to replace Pete Carroll, who was one-and-done in Las Vegas.

“Klay doesn’t get enough recognition,” Shanahan said recently. “He’s as good as anyone I’ve had and is responsible for as much if not more than the gameplan as myself. Klay’s a stud.”

It was Kubiak who suggested the “Skyy Bang Reverse Pass” which resulted in a 29-yard touchdown pass from Jauan Jennings to Christian McCaffrey against Philadelphia.

Kubiak should also be on the radar for teams looking for a play-calling coordinator, a duty which Shanahan performs for the 49ers. If still under contract, the 49ers would be able to deny permission or block any lateral move.

Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh reportedly interviewed with Miami and had another interview scheduled with Arizona with more expected Sunday.