Will Ricky Pearsall's injury force the 49ers to extend Brandon Aiyuk's contract?

The 49ers drafted Ricky Pearsall in the 1st round specifically to gain an advantage over Brandon Aiyuk.

Aiyuk wants a contract extension that is apparently worth more than $30 million per season, and the 49ers aren't eager to give him that. So the 49ers signed Pearsall to potentially replace Aiyuk or convince him to accept a lower offer.

But Pearsall has a shoulder injury and it's unclear how serious it is. He hasn't practiced since Aug. 6 and has re-injured it twice since the first time before the draft. Now it seems possible Pearsall could miss Week 1 against the New York Jets.

If Pearsall's injury is serious and he has a long recovery time ahead of him, would the 49ers feel more pressure to make a deal with Aiyuk now and get him back on the field for Week 1? Because if Aiyuk doesn't play Week 1, it's unclear who would replace him in the starting lineup. Robbie Chosen is clearly not an option. Chris Conley doesn't seem like a big one, either. The 49ers could start fourth-round rookie Jacob Cowing, but he's only played one game in the preseason. It's unclear how good he really is and whether he's ready for a big role on a Super Bowl contender.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan will speak to the media after the 49ers' final preseason game against the Raiders and will surely answer questions about the specifics of Pearsall's injury. If his report is grim, it would not be a surprise to see Aiyuk back at the 49ers facility soon.