Ricky Pearsall
Wide Receiver #14
Ricky Pearsall News
Ricky Pearsall Could Be Stuck in the WR2 Role in San Francisco
A first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall has missed 14 games due to injury over the first two years of his NFL career. When healthy, Pearsall's production has been more solid than spectacular. Across nine games played in 2025, the 25-year-old hauled in 36 receptions for 528 yards and zero touchdowns on 53 targets. The 49ers made one of the biggest splashes of the early portion of free agency by signing veteran wide receiver Mike Evans to a three-year deal. While the 32-year-old Evans may no longer be the player he once was at his peak, he still projects as San Francisco's top outside wideout and could push Pearsall to the WR2 role. On the bright side for Pearsall's production outlook, the 49ers could be losing wide receiver Jauan Jennings to free agency and will likely be without star tight end George Kittle (Achilles) for a chunk of 2026 as Kittle recovers from a torn Achilles tendon. Still, the signing of Evans could signal that San Francisco does not view Pearsall as a number-one wide receiver option going forward and may be bad news for his long-term dynasty outlook.
Mar 12, 2026 7:01 AM EST
Ricky Pearsall the Unquestioned WR1 in San Francisco?
Ricky Pearsall's early NFL career has been hampered by injuries, resulting in 17 missed games through his first two seasons. However, with major changes expected to reshape the 49ers' receiving corps heading into 2026, the cards are aligned for a healthy Pearsall to take the next step and deliver upon the flashes he showed to bookend his sophomore campaign. Jauan Jennings is set to test free agency when the new league year opens, and All-Pro tight end George Kittle faces a lengthy recovery from the torn ACL he suffered in a Wild Card win over the Eagles. San Francisco is still likely to add receiving depth through free agency or the draft, but the former first-rounder Pearsall has every opportunity to carve out a major role on a depth chart with only the soon-to-be-30-year-old Christian McCaffrey currently threatening for targets.
Mar 5, 2026 7:18 AM EST
Can Ricky Pearsall Solidify Himself as 49ers' Top Wide Receiver?
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is trending up ahead of the NFL offseason. Fellow Niners receiver Jauan Jennings is headed for free agency, and given that his relationship with the team is rocky, it seems likely that he'll sign somewhere else. If Jennings does leave, and Brandon Aiyuk also departs as expected, that will open the door for Pearsall to step into the No. 1 receiver role. He showed the ability to handle a top role at times in 2025, but injuries prevented fantasy managers from being able to fully evaluate him. He ultimately finished his second pro season with 36 catches, 528 yards, and zero touchdowns across nine games. Because of his injury history, it might be tough for the 49ers to trust Pearsall as their No. 1 receiver. We wouldn't be surprised to see them go out and grab a top pass-catcher via trade or free agency, leaving Pearsall in the No. 2 role once again. He can absolutely still offer upside in fantasy football, though. The 49ers have a very capable offense, so Pearsall will be able to turn any workload into fantasy points. He ranks as a fringe top-36 fantasy receiver for 2026 and would jump into the top 24 if the 49ers don't bring in any competition for him.
Feb 15, 2026 4:31 AM EST
Ricky Pearsall Could Step into Lead Role in 49ers' Passing Game in 2026
Heading into 2025, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was a popular pick to have a breakout season. However, the former first-round pick battled through a knee injury and recorded just 36 receptions for 528 yards and zero touchdowns on 53 targets across nine games played. Availability has been a consistent issue for Pearsall so far in his NFL career, as he's played in just 20 games across his first two seasons. Even when on the field, the 25-year-old has not yet emerged as a featured option in the San Francisco passing game. He's logged just 99 targets in his career, an average of fewer than five per contest. However, Pearsall will likely have an opportunity for a larger role with the 49ers in 2026. Star San Francisco tight end George Kittle (Achilles) suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the team's NFC Wild Card Round win over the Philadelphia Eagles and will likely miss time in 2026 as a result. Additionally, 49ers wideout Jauan Jennings is set to hit unrestricted free agency in mid-March after leading the team's wide receiver corps in targets in 2025. Fully buying in on Pearsall remains difficult until he proves the ability to stay healthy for an extended stretch. Still, he appears to have a clear pathway to a lead role in the San Francisco passing game in 2026.
Jan 27, 2026 12:58 PM EST
Ricky Pearsall Active for Divisional Round
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) is officially active for Saturday's Divisional Round contest against the Seattle Seahawks. He had been listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity. Pearsall returns to action following a two-game absence. Injuries bothered him throughout most of the regular season, limiting him to just 36 catches, 528 yards, and zero touchdowns through nine games. His return comes at a perfect time for the Niners, who were in need of pass-catching reinforcements after losing George Kittle (Achilles) for the rest of the playoffs. Pearsall will step up as the No. 2 receiver alongside Jauan Jennings against Seattle. The last time he faced the Seahawks, back in Week 1, Pearsall caught four passes for 108 yards.
Jan 17, 2026 6:53 PM EST
Ricky Pearsall Questionable to Play on Saturday Night
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) will be questionable to play in the Divisional Round of the playoffs on Saturday evening on the road against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Pearsall missed a good chunk of his second NFL season due to a sprained PCL in his right knee, and he's also missed three of the last four games, including last week's Wild-Card win over the Philadelphia Eagles, after aggravating his knee. San Fran could really use the 25-year-old former first-rounder back against Seattle after losing tight end George Kittle to a torn Achilles tendon last Sunday. Pearsall was limited in practice all week and is optimistic he'll be available on Saturday night. He did go over 100 receiving yards in two of his last three games, but Pearsall has been very hit or miss and injury-prone, making him extremely volatile as a fantasy option in playoff leagues in a bad matchup if he's active.
Jan 15, 2026 6:55 PM EST
Ricky Pearsall "Optimistic" he Will Return in Divisional Round
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) is "optimistic" that he will return in the Divisional Round of the playoffs this Saturday night against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks and plans to be at full speed in practice on Wednesday, according to David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard. Pearsall practiced in a limited fashion on Tuesday for the first time since Dec. 31 due to an aggravation of a PCL sprain in his right knee. The 25-year-old former first-rounder is also battling an ankle injury. Injuries continued to be an issue for Pearsall in 2025 -- he played in just nine games -- but he appears to be trending in the right direction to be active against Seattle. That would be a big boost to a Niners offense that just lost star tight end George Kittle to a torn Achilles tendon. It would also be bad news for the fantasy upside of both receivers Jauan Jennings and Demarcus Robinson.
Jan 14, 2026 3:24 PM EST
Ricky Pearsall to be Limited in Tuesday's Practice
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) will be listed as a limited participant on the team's estimated injury report on Tuesday, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. Pearsall is back at practice for the first time since Dec. 31 after aggravating a PCL sprain in his right knee. The 25-year-old has a shot to return for the Divisional Round of the playoffs against the Seattle Seahawks, but Pearsall should still be considered very questionable for the weekend. The Niners really could use the former first-rounder back after they lost tight end George Kittle to a torn Achilles tendon last weekend. If Pearsall is limited or misses yet another game due to knee and ankle injuries, Demarcus Robinson could be in line for heavy targets for the second straight week. Robinson broke out for six catches, 111 yards, and a touchdown on a season-high seven targets in the Wild-Card win over the Eagles with Pearsall out.
Jan 13, 2026 7:09 PM EST
Ricky Pearsall Ruled Out for Wild Card Round
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) will remain sidelined for his team's Wild Card Weekend matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Pearsall re-aggravated an existing PCL injury in his knee in Week 17 and has not played since. The 25-year-old battled injuries throughout the regular season, recording 36 receptions for 528 yards on 53 targets across nine games played. Without him, San Francisco will likely turn to veteran wide receivers Demarcus Robinson and Kendrick Bourne for pass-catching snaps alongside WR1 Jauan Jennings. Robinson was the more heavily utilized wideout of the two in Week 18, playing 88% of the 49ers' offensive snaps and hauling in three receptions for 24 yards on four targets.
Jan 11, 2026 3:23 PM EST
Ricky Pearsall Considered Questionable for Wild-Card Game
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) is considered questionable to play on Sunday against the hosting Philadelphia Eagles in a Wild-Card playoff game, according to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. The questionable tag leaves the door open for Pearsall to play this weekend, but he's definitely on the wrong side of questionable after missing a full week of practice for the second straight week. The 25-year-old aggravated a PCL sprain in his knee that caused him to miss a big chunk of the regular season as well. Fantasy managers definitely shouldn't expect him to be active on Sunday. If Pearsall is officially out for a second straight game, Jauan Jennings should operate as the team's clear WR1, with both Demarcus Robinson and Kendrick Bourne filling bigger roles behind Jennings. Tight end George Kittle should also be heavily targeted.
Jan 9, 2026 4:57 PM EST
Ricky Pearsall Working on Side Field on Thursday
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) was seen on a side field during Thursday's practice, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Pearsall is going to go down as a non-participant in practice for the second straight day, which doesn't bode well for his availability on Sunday in the Wild-Card playoff game on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles. The 25-year-old missed six games earlier this year due to a PCL sprain in his right knee, and he aggravated the injury in Week 17. The former first-rounder did not play in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Seattle Seahawks last Saturday and is on the wrong side of questionable to be active for the first round of the playoffs. If Pearsall misses Sunday's game, Jauan Jennings, Demarcus Robinson, and Kendrick Bourne could all see more targets in the passing game in a tough matchup against Philly's defense.
Jan 8, 2026 5:08 PM EST
Ricky Pearsall Won't Practice Wednesday, in Doubt for Wild-Card Weekend
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) will not practice on Wednesday, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. Pearsall aggravated a PCL sprain in his right knee and was held out of the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Seattle Seahawks last Saturday. The 25-year-old former first-rounder missed a good chunk of the 2025 season due to his knee injury, so he could be fighting an uphill battle to play on Wild-Card weekend in Philadelphia against the Eagles on Sunday. If Pearsall cannot get cleared to play in the opening round of the playoffs, it will open up targets for receivers Jauan Jennings, Demarcus Robinson, and Kendrick Bourne, as well as tight end George Kittle. In the Week 18 loss to Seattle, Jennings led the team with four catches for only 35 yards. As of right now, Pearsall is likely on the wrong side of questionable to play against Philly.
Jan 7, 2026 3:07 PM EST
Ricky Pearsall Aggravated his PCL Knee Injury
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) aggravated his PCL injury last week, which is why he was inactive for the Week 18 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night despite practicing all week before the game, according to David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard. The 25-year-old former first-rounder is also dealing with an ankle sprain, which makes him questionable to play in the Wild-Card round of the playoffs this Sunday versus the hosting Philadelphia Eagles. When healthy, Pearsall is one of quarterback Brock Purdy's top targets, but he's played in just nine games in 2025 due to injuries after playing in 11 games in his rookie campaign. If Pearsall misses a second straight game this weekend, Jauan Jennings, Demarcus Robinson, and Kendrick Bourne would all be in line for more targets.
Jan 5, 2026 3:25 PM EST
Ricky Pearsall Inactive for Saturday's Game
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) is officially inactive ahead of Saturday's Week 18 matchup versus the Seattle Seahawks. Pearsall was questionable coming into this game, but will sit out due to an ankle sprain and a PCL injury. The absence of Pearsall should mean increased looks for Jauan Jennings and George Kittle. There's a chance that Demarcus Robinson and Kendrick Bourne see a larger target share, but they remain inconsistent options. Jennings and Kittle are the best DFS options with Pearsall sidelined for the regular season finale.
Jan 3, 2026 6:47 PM EST
Ricky Pearsall Questionable for Saturday Against Seattle
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) is listed as questionable on the final injury report for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Saturday night against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks, according to NBC Sports Bay Area's Jennifer Lee Chan. Pearsall missed yet another game in Week 16 due to knee and ankle injuries, but he returned in the Week 17 win over the Chicago Bears and looked great, securing five of his eight targets for 85 yards. The 25-year-old also played 81% of the offensive snaps. Pearsall didn't look to aggravate either of his injuries on Sunday night, so he should be on the right side of questionable to play against the Seahawks this weekend in a game that will decide the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoff picture. It's not an ideal matchup for fantasy, but if Pearsall is active, he'll be in play as a WR3/flex.
Jan 1, 2026 6:20 PM EST
Ricky Pearsall Limited in Tuesday's Practice
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) was listed as a limited participant in Tuesday's practice, according to The Athletic's Matt Barrows. Pearsall aggravated a knee injury dating back to earlier this year and missed the Week 16 contest, but he returned for Sunday night's tilt against the Chicago Bears to play 81% of the offensive snaps. The 25-year-old former first-rounder looked good, too, leading the team in receiving with 85 yards on five catches (eight targets). Injuries have become an issue for Pearsall in just his second year in the NFL, but as long as he doesn't suffer a setback, he should be active in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Saturday evening versus the division-rival Seattle Seahawks in a game that will decide the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Tight end George Kittle's (ankle) potential return this weekend could take valuable targets away from Pearsall.
Dec 30, 2025 7:38 PM EST
Ricky Pearsall Leads 49ers In Receiving Yards
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) logged five receptions for 85 yards on eight targets in their 42-38 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday night. Pearsall led the team in receiving yards and was second to backup tight end Jake Tonges in receptions and targets. After missing six weeks due to injury, Pearsall returned in Week 11 only to hit a three-game slump wherein he had a mere five catches for 20 yards. However, since the 49ers' bye in Week 14, Pearsall has been a worthwhile investment in fantasy. He missed last week due to injuries but had a six-catch, 96-yard game in Week 15. Pearsall has 36 catches for 528 yards and is still seeking his first touchdown of 2025 as the 49ers head into a Week 18 matchup against the Seahawks.
Dec 30, 2025 12:59 AM EST
Ricky Pearsall Officially Active for Week 17 Against Bears
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) is officially active for Sunday Night Football against the Chicago Bears in Week 17. He had been listed as questionable but was trending in the right direction ahead of kickoff. Having Pearsall available is key for the 49ers, who will be without George Kittle (ankle) on Sunday night. While Kittle is irreplaceable, Pearsall's return from a one-game absence fills a significant void in the passing game. He should handle a heavy dose of targets alongside Jauan Jennings and Jake Tonges. As it stands, Pearsall ranks as a mid-range WR3/flex against a Bears defense allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2025.
Dec 28, 2025 7:09 PM EST
Ricky Pearsall Expected to Play on Sunday Night
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) is expected to play against the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football in Week 17, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Pearsall is listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity. While star tight end George Kittle (ankle) is unlikely to play, San Francisco will get a major reinforcement in the passing game with Pearsall back from his one-game absence. The second-year receiver had six catches for 96 yards in his last healthy game against the Tennessee Titans, and he'll look to build on that performance this week against the Bears, who have allowed the third-most receiving yards and fifth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers in 2025. He ranks as a low-end WR3/flex in deeper leagues.
Dec 28, 2025 9:18 AM EST
Ricky Pearsall A Risky Start In Sunday Night Matchup
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) logged three limited practices this week and has been tagged as questionable for Week 17. Pearsall's six-catch, 96-yard performance in Week 15 was a welcome turnaround after logging just five catches and 20 yards in the 49ers' previous three games. Unfortunately, he suffered an ankle sprain and reaggravated his PCL injury in that game, which prevented him from playing last week. The 49ers square off against the Bears on Sunday Night Football, limiting fantasy managers' options should Pearsall suffer any setbacks or be declared inactive at the last minute. Despite a forgiving matchup against a leaky Bears defense, the timing of the game makes Pearsall a risky flex option. Interested managers should stash another flex-worthy candidate from the game or Monday's Rams-Falcons clash as an insurance policy.
Dec 27, 2025 4:35 AM EST
Latest Fantasy News
