It’s been a brutal ride for Ricky Pearsall. Honestly, if you’ve followed his trajectory since that terrifying August day in Union Square, you know the kid has some of the worst luck in the NFL, mixed with some of the most incredible resilience. After fighting his way back from a gunshot wound to the chest that sidelined him at the start of his rookie year, he’s now spent much of his sophomore 2025 campaign battling a nagging knee.
Everyone was looking for a big Ricky Pearsall injury update heading into the divisional round against the Seattle Seahawks. We finally got one, but it wasn't exactly the fairy tale ending fans wanted.
The PCL Issue and the Playoff Ghosting
Pearsall actually suited up for the January 17, 2026, showdown in Seattle. He was active. He was on the field. But if you watched the game—a lopsided 41-6 blowout loss that sent San Francisco packing—you might have missed him entirely. He didn't record a single catch. Two targets, zero receptions.
Basically, he was a decoy.
The 49ers training staff and Kyle Shanahan had been managing Pearsall's right knee for months. It’s a PCL sprain that just won’t quit. He originally tweaked it back on December 14 against the Tennessee Titans. Since then, he’s been a ghost. He missed the regular-season finale, sat out the Wild Card win against the Eagles, and then finally "returned" for the Divisional round only to look like a shell of himself.
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"I couldn't really lift up my leg very well," Pearsall admitted earlier in the week when discussing his practice sessions. You could see it on the tape. He lacked that twitchy separation that made him a first-round pick.
Why the 2025 Season Felt Cursed
It’s easy to forget that Pearsall actually started the 2025 season with some serious juice. Before the knee flared up, he had 36 catches for 528 yards in nine games. Not Hall of Fame numbers, sure, but he was becoming Brock Purdy’s favorite "move the sticks" guy, especially with Brandon Aiyuk out of the picture.
The timeline of his setbacks is honestly exhausting:
- Early Season: Strong start, looking like the WR2 the Niners desperately needed.
- Week 14 (vs. Titans): The knee injury happens. He tries to play through it, aggravates it, and leaves late in the fourth.
- Late December/January: Misses multiple games. Shanahan calls the timeline "fuzzy."
- Divisional Round: Activated, but clearly limited.
Kyle Shanahan mentioned that the pain from a PCL injury takes forever to actually go away. You can play on it, but you aren't you. When George Kittle went down with a torn Achilles in the Wild Card round, the 49ers practically begged Pearsall to be the hero. He just didn't have the legs for it.
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The Mental Toll Nobody Talks About
We can talk about ligaments and yardage all day, but Pearsall is also carrying some heavy mental baggage. He’s been open about the trauma of the 2024 shooting. He’s told reporters he revisits that night almost every time he goes to sleep.
It’s a lot for a 25-year-old.
Being an elite athlete requires your body and mind to be in total sync. When your knee is barking and you're still processing a near-death experience, it’s a miracle he’s even on the roster. The Niners traded for Brian Robinson Jr. (who also survived a shooting) specifically to give Pearsall someone to lean on. That kind of support is great, but it doesn't fix a PCL.
What This Means for the 49ers in 2026
The offseason is officially here for San Francisco. It’s a cold one.
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With the Seahawks ending their season in embarrassing fashion, the front office has to look at the receiver room. Brandon Aiyuk’s future with the team is a massive question mark after his ACL recovery stalled. Jauan Jennings is a warrior, but he’s a possession guy.
The 49ers need the "Florida version" of Ricky Pearsall—the guy who can run the full route tree and beat man coverage consistently.
The good news? A PCL sprain rarely requires surgery unless there’s a total tear. It’s about rest, strengthening the posterior chain, and giving the inflammation a chance to die down.
Actionable Next Steps for 49ers Fans and Fantasy Owners
If you're tracking the Ricky Pearsall injury update for your 2026 dynasty rankings or just out of pure Niners fandom, keep your eyes on these specific milestones:
- The February Check-up: We’ll find out soon if the team recommends any "cleanup" procedures on that knee. If he goes under the knife, his training camp might be delayed.
- OTA Participation: If Pearsall isn’t a full participant by May, the "PCL issue" has become a "chronic issue." That’s a red flag.
- The Aiyuk Factor: If the Niners move on from Aiyuk this spring, it’s a massive vote of confidence in Pearsall’s health. If they draft another WR in the first two rounds, they’re worried.
The talent is there. The hands are like magnets. But right now, Ricky Pearsall just needs a break from the turf and a chance to get his body right.