In a wide receiver room filled with question marks, former first-round pick Ricky Pearsall has begun to cement himself as a reliable option for the San Francisco 49ers.
The 2024 season began with a slow start for Pearsall, becoming more comfortable as the year went on. In his last two games of the year, the 24-year-old totaled 210 yards and two touchdowns.
It took a while to build a rapport with Brock Purdy, but it seems the pair’s connection from last year has continued into training camp.
A good practice for the Brock1to-Ricky connection. I had Purdy at 11-11 in team situations, including 4-4 to Pearsall.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) August 2, 2025
Pearsall proved he can be a number one target in college, finishing his 2023 campaign with the Florida Gators with 965 receiving yards, 427 more than his next teammate.
There’s an opening for a large role behind George Kittle as the 49ers’ main pass catcher in 2025. A big jump from Pearsall would be huge for the team’s attempt at a bounce-back year.
Despite facing tons of adversity last year, missing the entire beginning of his rookie season, Pearsall battled through it all, and showed he’s capable of living up to his first-round expectations in the small sample size he had.
Pearsall has shown off his quick release and impressive athleticism through camp, using his 6-foot-3, 189-pound frame to turn heads during individual drills and 11v11s.
Ricky Pearsall completed his first full week of practice with a very active day. He has looked very good — the best 49ers wide receiver on the field — in the time he’s been out there.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) August 2, 2025
Learning Kyle Shanahan’s offense can take time for young players, with its intricacies eventually helping to produce big seasons for young receivers in years following their rookie campaigns.
A hamstring injury sidelined Pearsall during offseason workouts and the very beginning of training camp, but all signs have pointed to him being back at 100 percent.
With Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings both potentially not seeing the field to start the regular season, Pearsall intends to continue to set himself above the rest of the room and show the team what he can be at his full potential.
