The San Francisco 49ers have shut down wide receiver Ricky Pearsall for the rest of the 2026 season. The team placed the former first-round pick on season-ending injured reserve on Saturday after ongoing issues with a posterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee.
General manager John Lynch confirmed that Pearsall will undergo surgery in the next couple of weeks. Doctors project a recovery window of six to 12 months, with nine months viewed as the most realistic target for a full return to the field.
Ricky Pearsall’s injury timeline and decision for surgery
Ricky Pearsall first hurt the knee in Week 4 of the 2025 season during a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The injury forced him to miss all or parts of 10 games last year. After the season, the team and player discussed surgery but chose rest and rehabilitation instead, hoping the knee would stabilize.
That plan did not hold up. Pearsall managed only three training camp practices before swelling returned. On Wednesday, the 49ers admitted they had “concern” and were reviewing every option. By Saturday the decision was clear.
“You obviously are doing your due diligence,” Lynch said. “We reevaluated after (the season) and the consensus was that that wasn’t the step to take. He did well throughout the offseason, ran into some other road bumps. At that point between all the docs that we consulted… the decision was made. As (team physician) Tim (McAdams) said, it’s declared itself. And the course of action that everyone felt was appropriate was having surgery.”
Last season Pearsall finished with 36 catches for 528 yards and no touchdowns across 10 games, including the postseason. He returned for the NFC divisional round against Seattle but recorded zero receptions in the loss.
Deebo Samuel rejoins the 49ers
On the same day the team announced Ricky Pearsall’s move to injured reserve, the 49ers signed veteran wide receiver Deebo Samuel to a one-year contract. Samuel immediately fills the open roster spot.
Lynch made clear the club had been working to bring Samuel back regardless of Pearsall’s status. The two sides began serious talks about a month ago and finalized the agreement in recent days.
“Deebo makes us better as a football team and we’re interested in getting better,” Lynch said. “So, it was finding common ground on a deal. Deebo has been, at times, one of the better players in football. And so (he) was at a different stage where we kind of evaluated the market. Deebo did the same. And about a month ago we started having talks in earnest and came to fruition here a couple days ago and we’re thrilled to have him back.”
Samuel spent his first six NFL seasons in San Francisco after the team drafted him in the second round in 2019. He became a centerpiece of the offense before the club traded him to the Washington Commanders in the 2025 offseason. His return restores a familiar physical presence and proven playmaking ability to the receiving group.
What this means for the 49ers offense
Ricky Pearsall’s third NFL season ends before it starts, dealing another setback to a player once viewed as a long-term building block. The 49ers now lean on Samuel’s experience and versatility while younger receivers step into larger roles during training camp and the early part of the season.