San Francisco 49erswide receiver Ricky Pearsall recently underwent surgery on his right knee after he tore his PCL last season. Now, the team has placed him on injured reserve for the 2026 season, as the WR is focused on a lengthy recovery.
"Nothing to be disappointed about. No regrets. No what ifs. Just peace in the midst of yet another trial, knowing I did everything I could. I gave myself time to disconnect from the world, process everything, and shift my focus toward what's ahead over these next 9 months,"Pearsall shared his thoughts on Instagramalongside images from the hospital room.
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"All I've ever known is football. I've never missed a game because of a football injury in my entire career. So when I got the news, it was hard to wrap my mind around the fact that the same injury I had been fighting through, the one that was supposed to be alright, was ultimately going to require surgery and end my 2026 season. Just like that, face to face with another challenge."
NFL, American Football Herren, USA 2024: San Francisco 49ers Training Camp Day 9 AUG 03 Aug 03 2024 Santa Clara U.S.A CA San Francisco 49ers Wide Receiver Ricky Pearsall14working out during San Francisco 49ers Training Camp Day 9 at SAP Performance Facility at Levi s Stadium Santa Clara Calif. Thurman James / CSM Credit Image: Thurman James/Cal Media Santa Clara Ca USA EDITORIAL USE ONLY Copyright: xx ZUMA-20240803_zma_c04_058.jpg ThurmanxJamesx csmphotothree276459
Last season, Pearsall experienced knee issues at the start of the season, and then in Week 4 he ended up hurting it. The team placed him on IR. He came back in Week 11, but that worsened his PCL.
While the 49ers initially hoped offseason rest and rehabilitation would resolve the injury,renewed swelling during training campforced a shift in plans. Now, the WR has a projected six- to 12-month rehab timeline that could reduce to nine months
"Time to completely shift my mind. Time to hone in on every aspect of myself, mentally, physically, and spiritually. Time to lock it all in," Pearsall added. "The road back starts now. I'm ready for every part of it. Every early morning. Every setback. Every small win nobody sees. Every step that gets me closer to stepping back on that field."
This will be the third time that a health-related concern has derailed Pearsall's NFL season. In 2024, the 25-year-old missed the first six games of the season after he was shot in the chest in an armed robbery. Last year, he only played in 10 games, struggling with hamstring and knee injuries.
Pearsall was drafted 31st overall by the Niners in the 2024 NFL Draft. Since then, he has racked up 99 receptions for 928 yards and three touchdowns.
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To replace Pearsall, San Francisco signed WR Deebo Samuel, who played with the franchise for six years before being traded to theWashington Commanders.He signed a one-year, $4.1 million contract and will earn a base salary of $3.27 million in 2026.
However, head coach Kyle Shanahan has strongly pushed back on the notion that Samuel was brought back solely to replace Pearsall.
"They're just two completely different types of players," Shanahan said. "Deebo was someone that we were hoping it would work out."
While losing Pearsall is a tough blow, the Niners are focused on supporting his long-term recovery, and with Samuel back in the fold, San Francisco will look to keep their offense moving forward.
