Ricky Pearsall

Pearsall missed six games in 2025 due to a PCL sprain in his right knee and aggravated the injury in Week 17. He is a borderline injury-prone player, having missed significant time in both his rookie and second seasons.

Pearsall's PCL injury plagued him all season (9 games missed) and re-aggravated in Week 17. Missed playoffs entirely except for questionable status. This is his second year with major durability issues (11 games in 2024, 10 in 2025).

Target share has fallen to just 7% in his final logged game (W20), and the season trend shows both target share and snap share moving down. His floor is dangerously low if he cannot assert himself against a newly competitive WR room.

The 49ers are all but certain to move on from Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings is a free agent and Ricky Pearsall has struggled to stay healthy. The team will likely find a difference-making wide receiver, adding external depth threat uncertainty.

With only Pearsall and Demarcus Robinson under contract for 2026, and Jennings potentially returning on a $22M/year deal, Pearsall's target share remains unclear. He's never been a true WR1 and could be relegated to WR3 duties if SF adds talent.

With George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey aging and Brandon Aiyuk's future uncertain, Pearsall could rise to the WR1 role in San Francisco by next year. At just 25.4 years old, he has the prime age advantage.

Kittle's torn Achilles creates 120+ target vacancies in 2026. As a primary slot/underneath option, Pearsall can absorb significant volume if healthy, improving his floor and ceiling materially.

Aiyuk's formal exit opens the WR1 role. Pearsall (age 25.4) is best-positioned to claim it over Jennings, Bourne, and Watkins. When healthy, he's Purdy's preferred target and system fit in Shanahan's offense.

George Kittle's torn Achilles creates 120+ target vacancies, and Brandon Aiyuk is officially done in SF per GM John Lynch. If healthy, Pearsall is positioned to absorb significant volume in a Shanahan offense with stable QB Brock Purdy locked through 2030.

Aiyuk ($27M voided, expected to depart), Jennings, and Bourne are all gone, clearing a large target pool. Pearsall is the only returning young perimeter receiver with established chemistry with Purdy.

George Kittle tore his Achilles in the playoffs and is targeting a Week 1 2026 return, but a second Achilles-related absence would massively redirect targets toward the WR room. Pearsall would be the primary beneficiary as the WR2 behind Evans.