49ers WR Ricky Pearsall undergoes knee surgery, targets nine-month recovery

San Francisco's first-round receiving prospect Ricky Pearsall had surgery to repair the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and is targeting roughly nine months for recovery, according to ESPN's reporting. If the timeline holds, he would return for the start of the 2027 season. The 49ers placed him on season-ending injured reserve nearly two weeks before the report date.

Perarsall's path back into the lineup has been marked by interruption since arriving in the NFL. In his three seasons, he has appeared in only 20 games, recording 67 receptions for 928 yards and three touchdowns. He missed the first six games of his rookie year after being shot in an attempted robbery in San Francisco. Last season, he initially injured the knee in a Week 4 loss to Jacksonville, an injury that cost him all or parts of 10 games.

The injury sequence this offseason set back the team's carefully laid recovery plan. The 49ers and Pearsall elected to forgo surgery in the offseason, hoping that rehabilitation and rest would allow the knee to heal sufficiently for him to return to full strength. That strategy collapsed during training camp. After just three practices, swelling developed in the knee, forcing a reconsideration.

At the University of Florida, Pearsall never missed a game. The contrast underscores the durability challenges that have defined his professional career so far. The 49ers will need to address the ninth-month timeline in the context of a fifth-year option decision due next offseason, according to ESPN's reporting.

The swelling that emerged mid-training camp contradicts the initial assessment that rest and rehabilitation would be sufficient. Multiple sources close to the situation told ESPN the decision to avoid surgery initially proved wrong, indicating the knee injury may not have healed adequately despite the team's offseason care.