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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. On Wednesday, the San Francisco 49ers shared that they had a concern about wide receiver Ricky Pearsall after he was a non-participant at practice due to swelling in the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
Pearsall dealt with the injury during the 2025 campaign. San Francisco wanted to explore what to do with Pearsall for the upcoming season, and whether it would be prudent to shut down the 2024 first-round pick for the season so he could have surgery to repair the knee.
Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, 49ers general manager John Lynch told reporters on Saturday that Pearsall will undergo season-ending surgery to repair the PCL injury. San Francisco hopes he will return for the 2027 season.
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"After lengthy discussions with doctors, 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is expected to undergo season-ending surgery on the nagging PCL injury that dates back to last season and be out for the year, John Lynch told reporters," Schefter posted on X. Pearsall is expected to make a full recovery in time for the 2027 season."
Pearsall didn't play until Week 7 of his rookie season after sustaining a gunshot wound to the chest in August. He appeared in 11 games and started in four games for the 49ers in 2024, recording 31 receptions for 400 yards and three touchdowns.
Pearsall played and started in nine games last season, recording 31 receptions for 528 yards. He's shown a lot of promise during his short career, but he's been unable to stay on the field consistently, and won't have another opportunity to boost his stats until 2027.
The 49ers recently added help at the wide receiver position, signing Deebo Samuel to a one-year deal. He'll join Mike Evans and Christian Kirk to give quarterback Brock Purdy an experienced receiver corps.
San Francisco selected De'Zhaun Stribling in the second round of the 2026 draft. He could be asked to make a larger impact in his rookie year now that Pearsall is out for the season.
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