Since being drafted in the 1st round by the San Francisco 49ers, former Florida Gators wide receiver Ricky Pearsall has had a whirlwind NFL journey, to say the least. When healthy and on the field, Pearsall has been productive and he had 528 yards receiving in nine games last year and finished with a Pro Football Focus grade of 71.6.
But staying on the field has been the issue, and after an offseason attempt to rehab a PCL injury, there is a chance he could miss the 2026 season.
Ricky Pearsall’s 2026 season could depend on whether he needs surgery
KNBR 49ers insider Matt Maiocco explained how dire the situation is for Pearsall:
“This doesn't look good either. You know, the posterior cruciate ligament is an injury that oftentimes heals on its own. And that was the expectation last year. He injured that thing, came back, kind of re-aggravated it, and just he had a difficult time shaking that.
Well, the idea was or the thought would be that it would heal on its own through the offseason. And it doesn't appear as if that has happened. After the first two days of training camp, which he ran all the routes, he wasn't limited in any fashion. He experienced swelling in that knee.
And now it's kind of back to the drawing board. If surgery is required, he's going to miss the season. He's going to miss the entire season….. So at this point, I think it's reasonable, rational, logical for the 49ers to not expect Ricky Pearsall to make any contribution in 2026.”
Ricky Pearsall (knee) update from @MaioccoNBCS:
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) July 30, 2026
"At this point I think it's reasonable, rational, logical, for the 49ers to not expect Ricky Pearsall to make any contribution in 2026."
via @KNBR:pic.twitter.com/UtMh7YbiZu
Ricky Pearsall’s NFL career has been repeatedly interrupted on whether he needs surgery
Ricky Pearsall’s NFL timeline
- 2024: Shot in the chest during a robbery attempt shortly before his rookie season. He returned approximately one month later and finished with 400 receiving yards.
- 2025 offseason: Dealt with a hamstring issue entering training camp.
- Weeks 1–4: Returned and produced 117 receiving yards against Arizona in Week 3.
- Week 4: Injured his PCL and remained out until Week 11.
- Late 2025: Returned to record 96 yards against Tennessee and 85 yards against Chicago.
- 2026 training camp: Practiced fully for two days before experiencing renewed knee swelling.
- Current concern: Surgery could end his 2026 season, although that decision has not been confirmed.
Pearsall’s NFL journey has been a combination of factors well outside of his control. Shortly before his rookie season in 2024, Pearsall was shot in the chest during a robbery attempt. He was reactivated a month later and went on to have 400 yards receiving during his rookie season.
He had a hamstring issue entering training camp last year but recovered and played well the first four weeks of the 2025 season, including an eight-catch game for 117 yards against Arizona in week three. But he injured his PCL in Week 4 and was out until Week 11. He still went on to put up a 96-yard game against Tennessee and an 85-yard game against Chicago after coming back.
Pearsall has been front and center of an ever-changing wide receiver room in San Fransico. When he arrived, he joined Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, and Brandon Aiyuk. Jennings has since left for Minnesota, and Aiyuk has had his own injury struggles.
In the offseason, the 49ers added Mike Evans and Christian Kirk. Samuel had left for Washington, but reports on Thursday indicated that he is coming back to San Francisco. The 49ers also drafted De’Zhaun Stribling out of Ole Miss.
Pearsall was with the Gators in 2022 and 2023 as one of the lone bright spots of the Billy Napier Era.
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