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By Michael Gallagher
Sports Content Coordinator
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The San Francisco 49ers can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to their wide receiver corps.
The team was banking on third-year wideout and former first-round pick Ricky Pearsall to have a breakout season in 2026, but it looks like Pearsall may not even play this year.
The 25-year-old WR has been dealing with a PCL injury ever since last season, and he tweaked it during the first practice of training camp and could miss the entire year if he elects to have surgery to repair it.
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Being without Pearsall opened the door for the 49ers to add another pass-catcher, and the team reunited with former All-Pro Deebo Samuel on a one-year deal on Thursday.
But according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Pearsall’s injury actually had nothing to do with Samuel heading back to San Francisco.
“The truth of the matter is Deebo had been talking to the 49ers all along,” Schefter said. “And the 49ers had told him they were interested in bringing him back to San Francisco for weeks. There were actual conversations that occurred between Kyle Shanahan and Deebo Samuel, and I think Deebo was obviously looking to see what kind of deal he could land in the open market.
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“When those deals that he was looking for don’t materialize, and those conversations with San Francisco continue on, and all of a sudden there are questions about Ricky Pearsall…no other offers had materialized for (Samuel), so in the end, we’ve seen what San Francisco can do with Deebo, how the 49ers utilize him, he’s dangerous in their offense, and I would imagine he’ll be a factor again this year. It worked out really for both sides. That’s where he should be playing, and they were fortunate that nobody else stepped up and signed him.”
Samuel spent the first six years of his career with the 49ers, logging 334 catches, 4,792 yards, and 22 touchdowns while adding 1,143 yards rushing and 20 more scores on the ground.
He was traded to the Washington Commanders last year and led the team in receiving with 72 receptions, 727 yards, and five touchdowns.
Samuel’s dual-threat skillset as a runner and receiver makes him a dangerous addition to Kyle Shanahan’s roster.
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