SF Ricky Pearsall
NFL player. Position: WR. Team: SF.
Quick Facts
- Position: WR
- Team: SF (San Francisco 49ers)
- Bye week (2026): 8
- FantasyPros PPR rank (pulled 2026-05-21): 96
2026 Outlook
SEASON-ENDING IR (8/1/2026): Ricky Pearsall has been placed on season-ending injured reserve with a PCL injury to his right knee, the same knee he damaged in 2025 (missed 8 games). GM John Lynch announced the placement after Pearsall underwent testing on Saturday; surgery is scheduled within two weeks with a recovery timeline of 6-12 months, "sweet spot" around nine months (per 49ers WR Ricky Pearsall to be placed on season-ending IR with PCL injury). Pearsall is out for the entire 2026 fantasy season and should be dropped in all leagues.
This marks a devastating blow to 49ers WR depth — Pearsall was positioned as the WR2 after Mike Evans, and showed 8.0 targets/game in his first three weeks of 2025. The recurring nature of his PCL injury (same knee, same injury) raises serious durability concerns for future seasons. HC Kyle Shanahan characterized losing Pearsall as "a real big deal" and "the only one that's actually been not just a camp injury," emphasizing that no other player on the roster is "wired exactly how Ricky is." Shanahan acknowledged the 49ers will need other receivers like De'Zhaun Stribling and Mike Evans to step up to fill the production gap. In response to Pearsall's season-ending injury, the 49ers brought back Deebo Samuel on a one-year deal to provide additional WR depth alongside Mike Evans and rookie De'Zhaun Stribling (per The most impactful injuries from NFL training camp so far - SB Nation and 49ers' Kyle Shanahan Gets Blunt on Ricky Pearsall Injury).
Role / Depth Chart
Season-ending IR — out for 2026. Expected depth chart for 49ers WRs: Mike Evans (WR1), Deebo Samuel (WR2), De'Zhaun Stribling (WR3).
Injury Status
SEASON-ENDING IR — PCL knee (8/1): Placed on season-ending injured reserve after PCL surgery was recommended for right knee. Missed 8 games in 2025 due to same injury; the recurrence suggests chronic durability issues. GM John Lynch confirmed timeline is 6-12 months recovery, with nine months as the "sweet spot." Pearsall is out for the 2026 fantasy season (per 49ers WR Ricky Pearsall to be placed on season-ending IR with PCL injury).
Recent News
- 2026-04-30 — 49ers camp battle could feature De’Zhaun Stribling vs. Ricky Pearsall (49ers camp battle could feature De’Zhaun Stribling vs. Ricky Pearsall)
- 2026-08-11 — 49ers Get Blunt Message Over Ricky Pearsall Injury Handling (49ers Get Blunt Message Over Ricky Pearsall Injury Handling)
- 2026-08-09 — 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan Gets Blunt on Ricky Pearsall Injury (49ers’ Kyle Shanahan Gets Blunt on Ricky Pearsall Injury)
- 2026-08-01 — 49ers President John Lynch: Ricky Pearsall To Miss 2026 With Knee Injury (49ers President John Lynch: Ricky Pearsall To Miss 2026 With Knee Injury)
- 2026-07-31 — Fantasy Football: Ricky Pearsall injury sparks Niners to bring back Deebo, plus more... (Fantasy Football: Ricky Pearsall injury sparks Niners to bring back Deebo, plus more...)
- 2026-08-02 — 49ers’ Deebo Samuel Gets Blunt on Ricky Pearsall’s Injury (49ers’ Deebo Samuel Gets Blunt on Ricky Pearsall’s Injury)
- 2026-08-01 — 49ers WR Ricky Pearsall to miss 2026 season with knee injury (49ers WR Ricky Pearsall to miss 2026 season with knee injury)
- 2026-08-01 — 49ers WR Ricky Pearsall to have season-ending knee surgery (49ers WR Ricky Pearsall to have season-ending knee surgery)
- 2026-08-01 — Ricky Pearsall injury: 49ers receiver to undergo season-ending surgery on lingering PCL (Ricky Pearsall injury: 49ers receiver to undergo season-ending surgery on lingering PCL)
- 2026-07-31 — What Deebo Samuel Sr.’s Return Means for the 49ers—and Ricky Pearsall’s Injury (What Deebo Samuel Sr.’s Return Means for the 49ers—and Ricky Pearsall’s Injury)
Open Questions
(scoped to this player — pulled from Fantasy Football Open Questions)