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49ers insider Maiocco indicated it is reasonable to expect Ricky Pearsall to miss the 2026 season due to a knee injury. The team delayed surgery to allow the injury to heal on its own, but once that approach failed, surgery became necessary. The timing of surgery and recovery suggests a full season absence is likely.

Pearsall's knee injury concerns create opportunity for De'Zhaun Stribling to assume a larger role in San Francisco's passing attack.

Pearsall re-injured his PCL in training camp (knee swelling), making his 2026 projection very fragile according to Andrew Erickson. This is particularly damaging given that Pearsall quietly flashed major upside in an injury-shortened 2025 season, posting four games with at least 85 receiving yards while leading the 49ers in receiving yards per game.

Ricky Pearsall dealt with knee swelling and was held out of training camp, with surgery being a potential option for his nagging PCL injury. His injury status directly prompted the 49ers' subsequent signings of Deebo Samuel, Josiah DeGuara, and Trenton Irwin to bolster receiving depth.

Ricky Pearsall, 25 years old, is being replaced by 30-year-old Deebo Samuel in a 1-for-1 swap. The source notes the 49ers may lose their ability to stretch the field in some ways without Pearsall, indicating his value as a deep-threat receiver.

49ers insider Maiocco indicated it is reasonable to expect Ricky Pearsall to miss the 2026 season due to a knee injury. The team delayed surgery to allow natural healing, but once that approach failed, surgery became necessary, which would sideline him for the season. The timing of surgery (February/March or later) would not allow sufficient recovery time for the 2026 campaign.

Ricky Pierall, an NBC Sports Bay Area reporter with 32 seasons covering the 49ers, stated it's "reasonable, rational, logical for the 49ers to not expect Ricky Pearsall to make any contribution in 2026." Pierall dropped Pearsall from WR54 to WR67, calling him "almost as completely undraftable at this point" given injury concerns compounded by Debo Samuel's one-year, $7 million signing with the team, which cements depth chart concerns.

Ricky Pearsall suffered a multi-year PCL injury on top of prior misfortune (being shot before his rookie season, then an injury that slowed his rookie year). PCL surgery recovery is brutal with 9-12 months minimum recovery time and very sluggish progression. Pearsall was likely rehabbing through January with PRP injections and biologics, but continued brace-wearing and inflammation suggest persistent joint laxity and instability. The source expects either extensive time off (potentially a month) or worst-case surgery that would cost him the entire 2026 season, making him undraftable despite strong performance when fully healthy.

Knee injury is something the 49ers are 'continuing to evaluate,' per assistant head coach Chris Foerster; status remains uncertain as team monitors the situation.

Ricky Pearsall might not play in 2026, which prompted the 49ers to bring back Deebo Samuel and address their wide receiver depth chart.

Ricky Pearsall's injury is cited as context for Deebo Samuel's return to the 49ers, indicating that Pearsall's health status has created a receiving corps need that Samuel's reunion addresses.

Pearsall, the 49ers' former first-round wideout, is dealing with an injury that prompted San Francisco to sign Deebo Samuel as a replacement option.

San Francisco 49ers former first-round draft pick Ricky Pearsall deals with knee swelling that has the team 'concerned' stemming from a PCL injury last season, limiting his availability early in camp.

Pearsall has slid 6 spots to No. 107 around injury updates, indicating health concerns are driving the downward movement in his draft ranking.

First-round pick (2024) now effectively benched by Deebo's return. waiver-wire add at best, borderline undraftable in redraft. Drafted for durability (no games missed in college) and blocking/route-running ability, but has been injury-plagued in NFL. Pearsall had upside as focal point of offense; Deebo's return eliminates that. Beat writer Maiocco reported 49ers do not expect Pearsall to contribute this year, now confirmed by this signing. Stribling hype (another WR) also overshadows him.

Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is among multiple starters and contributors already dinged up during 2026 training camp, despite the 49ers' schedule adjustment to reduce injury risk by moving away from three consecutive practice days.

49ers WR Ricky Pearsall is dealing with knee swelling and the team has concerns; the source reports the belief is that it stems from the PCL injury he previously dealt with, and all options are on the table.

Pearsall's knee swelling is a major concern after dealing with a PCL issue last season; the team announced 'everything is on the table,' meaning either a wait-and-see monitoring approach or season-ending surgery to repair the PCL. This creates a significant fantasy impact and opens opportunity for other receivers.

49ers WR dealing with knee swelling stemming from PCL injury suffered during 2025 season; team exploring "all options" with "some concern" around the injury; injury compounds ongoing 49ers wide receiver corps injury issues that persisted throughout 2025 campaign.

49ers WR Ricky Pearsall is dealing with knee swelling and the team has concerns; all options are on the table, with the belief that it stems from the PCL injury he previously dealt with.

The 49ers are exploring all options including possible surgery on Pearsall's right knee (PCL) that cost him games last year. Surgery being on the table in late July is a red flag for a player who was a trendy breakout pick after his strong finish. The source would still take him in the 18th round but acknowledges the injury concern is significant enough that some may take him completely off their board.

Pearsall dealt with a PCL issue in his knee last season, but the thought was that an offseason of rest would rectify the issue. However, swelling has returned in the same knee, and the team announced there is concern with 'everything is on the table.' The timeline includes either a wait-and-see approach with monitoring and practice restrictions, or surgery that would end his season. Matt Maiocco explained the possibility of Pearsall missing the entire season.

San Francisco 49ers WR Ricky Pearsall suffered a PCL injury in 2025 that re-aggravated after initial recovery, and knee swelling emerged during the first two days of 2026 training camp despite expectations the injury would heal on its own during the offseason. Matt Maiocco reports the latest developments "don't look good"; if surgery is required, Pearsall will miss the entire 2026 season. The 49ers made a calculated decision to avoid early offseason surgery in hopes of natural healing, but the swelling setback has forced reconsideration. Maiocco states it is "reasonable, rational, logical, for the 49ers to not expect Ricky Pearsall to make any contribution in 2026."

Wide receiver suffered an injury during 2024 training camp; listed among multiple starters and contributors already dinged up early in camp alongside Jordan James and Malik Mustapha.

49ers WR dealing with knee swelling stemming from PCL injury suffered during 2025 season; team exploring 'all options' with 'some concern' around the injury. Injury compounds ongoing 49ers WR corps injury issues that persisted throughout 2025 campaign.