The San Francisco 49ers and the Indianapolis Colts have already confirmed key availability changes that will shape tonight’s Monday Night Football clash. The 49ers ruled out wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee/ankle) and cornerback Renardo Green (neck) after final practice updates; quarterback Kurtis Rourke (knee) is also out.
The 49ers activated defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos from injured reserve and elevated cornerback Eli Apple and linebacker Eric Kendricks for the game. Kyle Shanahan said Gross-Matos had “a good two days” of practice work and noted Kendricks’ conditioning looked “good,” clearing depth bolsters at edge and linebacker.
On the Colts’ side, they have activated defensive tackle DeForest Buckner from injured reserve ahead of Monday night, with Brett Rypien waived as a corresponding move. Buckner had returned to full practice late last week and is expected to help a defensive front tasked with slowing Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey.
Anthony Richardson Sr. is still on the injured reserve, so Philip Rivers starts with the Colts, still in AFC Wild Card contention.
Inactive List for 49ers vs. Colts
Here are the confirmed inactives for tonight’s game:
San Francisco 49ers
- WR Ricky Pearsall
- CB Renardo Green
- QB Kurtis Rourke
Indianapolis Colts
[More inactives will be added closer to the game.]
Starters for 49ers vs. Colts
San Francisco 49ers
Coming into Week 16, the 49ers have the seventh-ranked offense in the league according to PFSN’s Offense Impact metric.
Offense:
Special Teams:
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Indianapolis Colts
Offense:
Defense:
Special Teams:
- LS Luke Rhodes
- H Rigoberto Sanchez
- K-FG Blake Grupe
- K-KO Blake Grupe
- P Rigoberto Sanchez
- KR Anthony Gould
- PR Anthony Gould
The 49ers’ confirmed outs, Ricky Pearsall and Renardo Green, tighten route depth and test secondary continuity, but activating Yetur Gross-Matos and elevating Eric Kendricks and Eli Apple bolster edge rush and linebacker/CB flexibility. San Francisco should lean on McCaffrey, Kittle, and play-action to create intermediate windows while distributing snaps across the WR room.
For Indianapolis, DeForest Buckner’s return immediately upgrades interior disruption and run fits against McCaffrey, aiding Rivers’ possession game with field-position leverage. Heavy’s reporting confirms Rivers starts, with the Colts seeking to arrest a skid while staying alive in the Wild Card picture.
With inactives due shortly before kickoff, personnel clarity, especially at corner and along both fronts, will dictate sub-package matchups, early-down efficiency, and red-zone sequencing in a game that balances the 49ers’ top-heavy skill production against an Indianapolis defense regaining its centerpiece.