49ers WR Ricky Pearsall's season could be in jeopardy before it even begins

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

49ers WR Ricky Pearsall's season could be in jeopardy before it even begins

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Jul 30, 2026 5:17 PM ET

The news surrounding San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is not exactly encouraging as the team's training camp starts to get rolling. Pearsall is not only still dealing with the effects of the knee injury that limited him in 2025, but there is a chance that it could still require surgery and potentially wipe out his entire 2026 season.

49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall could have his season in jeopardy before it even begins

Longtime 49ers beat writer Matt Maiocco was on KNBR on Thursday and said the situation is not looking good, and that's reasonable, if not logical, for the team to assume that Pearsall will not make any contributions this season.

Pearsall has been sitting out of practice due to swelling that is related to the PCL injury that limited him to just nine games in 2025.

The 49ers were hopeful that the injury could heal on its own without surgery, but early indications are that has not happened as anticipated.

"This doesn't look good... I think it's reasonable, rational, logical, for the 49ers to NOT expect Ricky Pearsall to make any contribution in 2026."@MaioccoNBCS says the Niners could be preparing for Ricky Pearsall to miss the entirety of the 2026 season.

(via @MarkusBoucher &… pic.twitter.com/35Q2IfXcVm
— KNBR (@KNBR) July 30, 2026

Pearsall was the 49ers first-round pick in 2024, but his career has been a non-stop series of bad luck and unfortunate incidents. His rookie season was limited after he was wounded by a gun shot in an armed robbery, resulting in him appearing in 11 games.

He appeared in nine games in 2025 due to the knee injury.

Overall he has caught 67 passes for 928 yards and three touchdowns when he has been on the field. That includes 36 catches for 528 yards a year ago.

With Brandon Aiyuk's time with the team all but over, and now Pearsall having his season in doubt, the 49ers' wide receiver depth chart could have a wildly different look this season.

Offseason additions Mike Evans and Christian Kirk could end up being the primary outside targets, while second-round pick De'Zhaun Stribling may have to take on a significantly larger role than expected at the start.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on X @AGretz

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