San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall will miss the entire upcoming season after suffering a torn posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in his right knee. General manager John Lynch announced Saturday that Pearsall is scheduled for season-ending surgery.
Pearsall's injury occurred during training camp, leading to swelling in the knee and his subsequent removal from practice. The 2024 first-round pick has faced injury challenges throughout his young career. As a rookie, he missed significant portions of training camp due to a shoulder injury and was also the victim of a robbery attempt before the season began.
In 2024, Pearsall played in 11 games, recording 31 receptions for 400 yards and three touchdowns. He showed flashes of potential early in the season, with 20 catches for 327 yards in his first four games, before a knee injury sidelined him for six games. Upon his return, his production decreased, and he re-aggravated the injury in a game against the Tennessee Titans. He ultimately missed two of the final three regular-season games and was not a significant factor in the playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Over his two seasons, Pearsall has accumulated 67 catches for 928 yards and three touchdowns in 20 games. His limited playing time raises questions about the team potentially picking up his fifth-year option for 2028.
To address the depth at wide receiver, the 49ers signed former All-Pro Deebo Samuel to a one-year deal. Samuel, who previously spent six seasons with the 49ers, was traded to Washington in 2025. Last season with the Commanders, he caught 72 passes for 727 yards and five touchdowns. He became a free agent in March and now returns to San Francisco.
Samuel's return, combined with the free-agent acquisition of Mike Evans and second-round pick De'Zhaun Stribling, reshapes the 49ers' wide receiver group. Samuel is known for his dynamic play after the catch, averaging 8.7 yards per reception since 2019, and has also contributed significantly in the running game with 1,218 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns in his career.