Live 49ers-Eagles updates: Trent Williams is active, Ricky Pearsall Jr. is not

Trent Williams is active and expected to start today’s NFC wild-card playoff game for the 49ers against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall Jr., however, continues to be hampered by knee and ankle issues and is inactive.

Other inactive players for the 49ers are running back Isaac Guerendo, wide receiver Jordan Watkins, defensive lineman Kevin Givens, linebackers Dee Winters and Luke Gifford and defensive back Chase Lucas.

The sixth-seeded 49ers (12-5) would advance to the divisional round next weekend with a win over the Eagles (11-6) and play top-seeded Seattle. The Seahawks (14-3) won the top seed and first-round with a 13-3 Week 18 win over the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium.

Williams was listed as questionable going into the game along with Winters (ankle), Gifford (quad), edge rusher Keion White (hamstring), wide receiver Jacob Cowing (hamstring) and cornerback Renardo Green (ankle). Williams, Green and White were limited participants in the getaway practice.

Green and White are both active and presumably available.

Gifford and Winters had pregame slow-speed workouts before the eye of the 49ers training staff about two hours before kickoff. The 49ers’ linebackers active in Philadelphia are Eric Kendricks, Garret Wallow, Curtis Robinson and Jalen Graham.

Injured while chasing T.J. Edwards on an interception return a touchdown on the first play of a 42-38 Week 18 win over Chicago, it is the first hamstring injury in Williams’ 204-game career. He was named to the second team of the Associated Press All-Pro team Saturday. The 49ers are 4-13 in games Williams has missed due to injury since his arrival in 2020.

Austen Pleasants stepped in for Williams against Chicago and fared well, although he and the rest of the 49ers’ offensive line struggled against Seattle.

First-team selections for the 49ers were running back Christian McCaffrey as an all-purpose back and fullback Kyle Juszczyk.

Williams, 37, struck an optimistic tone while speaking with the media Friday before the 49ers boarded a charter flight to Philadelphia. He was on the field Thursday and Friday in a limited fashion, much different than the intensity and strain of a playoff game.

“It’s always going to be a little bit of a concern,” Williams said. “I’m obviously pushing the limits on the time that’s required for it, so it’ll probably be in the back of my mind. But once you get out there just to get the flow of adrenaline, I don’t think it should be a bigger problem.”

The big news for the Eagles’ pregame moves was that right tackle Lane Johnson was inactive. Johnson, one of the NFL’s best at his position, tested his foot (Lisfranc) injury during the week but wasn’t deemed well enough to play. Johnson has been named to six Pro Bowls, is a two-time first-team All-Pro and a three-time second-team All-Pro. Other Philadelphia inactives were Joshua Uche, Sam Howell, Jakorian Bennett, A.J. Dillon and Ty Robinson.

CMC: Why this team is special

McCaffrey taped an interview during the week with Erin Andrews of Fox, who asked if he had considered the possibility that the 49ers’ window to win a championship was closing.

Here was his response:

“You don’t talk about it, you don’t think about it, but this is a team that I’ll always remember no matter what happens. Whether it’s the end of the road or whether it’s the beginning of the road, these guys go out and play as hard as humanly possible every game. It makes you want to do whatever it takes. That’s what makes this a special team. It’s what makes it fun. It’s why you have those bonds that will last forever.”

Shanahan’s negative imprint

After Chicago’s miraculous playoff win over Green Bay Saturday night, Bears coach Ben Johnson said he used the low point of Kyle Shanahan’s career as a training camp example about the possibility of winning in what seems like a lost cause.

Green Bay led Chicago 21-3 at halftime, but the Bears won with a 25-point fourth quarter. In camp, Johnson showed the Bears film of New England coming from a 28-3 deficit in Super Bowl LI to beat the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime.

Shanahan, of course, was the Falcons’ offensive coordinator on the team that blew a 25-point lead.

“Was just reminding them that this has been done before. And rather than saying ‘Woe is me’ and ‘Oh, crap, we’re in a hole,’ it’s more of an opportunity for us to turn this thing around into a game that we’ll never forget,” Johnson said. “And that’s what they did.”

Johnson had guard Joe Thuney, who was with the Patriots, and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, who was with Atlanta, speak about their experiences.

Notable

— Former 49ers on the field before kickoff included Hall of Famers Charles Haley and Patrick Willis.