Through the first month of the season, Ricky Pearsall looked like he was on the fast track to stardom. The 49ers rookie wideout wasn’t just producing-he was doing it with remarkable efficiency.
Despite having fewer targets than nearly every receiver ahead of him in the league’s yardage and first down rankings, Pearsall still cracked the top 11. That’s not easy to do in today’s NFL, where volume often drives production.
But Pearsall was flipping that narrative, turning limited opportunities into big-time gains.
The numbers backed it up. He averaged a staggering 20.5 yards per reception and was tied for the league lead in 20+ yard catches through Week 4, matching Tampa Bay’s Emeka Egbuka with five.
He wasn’t just catching passes-he was torching defenses. His presence added a vertical threat that opened up the entire 49ers offense.
Then, the momentum came to a halt.
Malik Nabers, one of Pearsall’s fellow breakout candidates, went down for the season. Pearsall followed shortly after, missing six games with a PCL injury.
And with that, Kyle Shanahan had to figure out how to replace a chunk of his offense that was built on explosive plays. From Weeks 5 through 13, the 49ers' quarterback duo of Mac Jones and Brock Purdy managed just eight completions of 20+ yards combined-matching Pearsall’s total through four weeks.
That tells you everything you need to know about how much his absence was felt.
Since returning, Pearsall hasn’t quite looked like the same player-at least not in the box score. He’s played in three games since the injury, but hasn’t topped 20 receiving yards in any of them.
That’s a stark contrast from his early-season fireworks. But according to offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, the dip in production isn’t about performance-it’s about circumstance.
“It’s circumstantial,” Kubiak said. “Every game’s different.”
Take his return in Week 11 against Arizona. Pearsall was targeted twice, caught one pass-a screen-and finished with zero yards.
Not the kind of stat line that turns heads, but the coaches insist it wasn’t due to lack of separation or effort. The coverage dictated where the ball went, and Pearsall didn’t get the looks.
In Week 12 against Carolina, the targets picked up-doubling from two to four-but the production didn’t follow. Pearsall finished with just six yards. Again, Kubiak pointed to missed opportunities, not missed assignments.
“We did target him a handful of times,” Kubiak said. “Brock missed a few throws on a couple, and then we got into a situation where we were trying to run the ball in the fourth quarter.”
Pearsall was the intended target on two of Purdy’s interceptions in that game. Shanahan didn’t mince words-those were “poor throws.”
And it’s worth noting: if those passes had been on target, Pearsall could’ve easily cleared the 80-yard mark. The plays were there.
The execution wasn’t.
The following week brought a tougher test: Cleveland. Cold weather, tight coverage, and one of the league’s best corners in Denzel Ward. But Pearsall still found ways to make an impact.
“There weren’t many ops,” Kubiak said, “but he did take advantage of some of his ops in that game.”
He beat man coverage multiple times and made a few key grabs, including a strong showing against Tyson Campbell during the two-minute drill. It wasn’t a breakout performance, but it was a reminder: Pearsall can still win his matchups, even against top-tier corners.
And that’s the bigger picture here. The coaching staff isn’t questioning Pearsall’s effort or ability. In fact, they’re praising it.
“Ricky’s not doing a thing wrong,” Kubiak said. “He’s practicing his butt off, he’s competing, he looks good.
That’s football sometimes. That’s the life of a receiver.
Sometimes the ball comes your way, sometimes it doesn’t. Just keep your head down, keep playing, and good things tend to happen.”
That message is clear: the 49ers still believe in Pearsall. And with the Titans up next-a defense that ranks near the bottom of the league in yards per play, points per drive, and explosive plays allowed-this could be the week he reminds everyone what he’s capable of.
If there’s a “get-right” game on the calendar, this is it. The Titans just gave up a deep-ball clinic to Shedeur Sanders, and they’ve struggled all season to contain speed and separation downfield. That’s exactly the kind of matchup Pearsall thrived in early on.
The talent’s still there. The opportunities are coming. And if the 49ers can find a way to unlock Pearsall again, their offense could be getting a major jolt just in time for the stretch run.