The San Francisco 49ers continue to navigate significant challenges with their receiving corps as injuries mount throughout the early season. Ricky Pearsall has emerged as a key contributor during his sophomore campaign, but now faces questions about his Week 4 availability. For fantasy football managers counting on the promising young receiver, what is the latest on his status?
Ricky Pearsall Injury Update
Pearsall missed Wednesday’s practice with a knee injury, representing a new health concern for the rookie receiver. This marks the first time this season that Pearsall has dealt with a knee issue, making it a fresh development rather than an aggravation of a previous problem.
He completed last week’s game without any apparent difficulties and posted his best game of the season with eight receptions for 117 yards. It has been an impressive start to his second NFL year.
Pearsall now has two 100-yard games in his first three contests to begin the season, establishing himself as a reliable target in San Francisco’s passing attack.
There was no noticeable play during last week’s game where Pearsall appeared to suffer any injury, which suggests it may just be maintenance.
As a reminder, Wednesday practices are largely meaningless in terms of actual game availability. Players often receive the day off, or teams exercise caution if there’s anything even remotely concerning. Many veterans and key contributors routinely sit out Wednesday sessions as a precautionary measure.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan said he is hopeful Pearsall will practice later in the week. While this is not the most encouraging sentiment, it does suggest the medical staff does not consider this injury serious. Shanahan’s optimism about a return to practice indicates this is likely a minor issue rather than a significant concern.
Perhaps Pearsall misses this week’s game. If he does, it does not sound like it will extend beyond one week based on the team’s initial assessment. Fortunately, the wide receiver himself gave a promising update.
#49ers WR Ricky Pearsall tells me he just has some knee soreness. His expectation is that he will practice this week and be OK for Sunday.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) September 24, 2025
If Pearsall cannot go, Jauan Jennings would serve as the primary receiving option, assuming he can return from his own shoulder and ankle injuries. Should both receivers remain sidelined, the 49ers would be staring down the barrel of Kendrick Bourne as their WR1 option. He played 72% of the snaps last week and caught four passes for 38 yards. Bourne would actually be worth consideration as a desperation flex play in deeper leagues if pressed into expanded duty.
Thursday Update: Pearsall returned to practice, as expected. He will be good to go on Sunday.
Pearsall Fantasy Outlook
Pearsall showed some pro-level chops with a 34-yard sideline catch last week when his team needed it most and continues to impress in this, his first full season in the NFL.
That grab highlighted an 8-117-0 line, making him the first 49er with a pair of 100-yard receiving games in the first three weeks of a season since Antonio Bryant did it in 2006.
The Jauan Jennings scratch (ankle/shoulder) put more responsibilities on Pearsall’s plate, and he didn’t bat an eye. You love to see that, but you have to naturally wonder just how sustainable it is.
In Week 2, with both receivers at full strength, Jennings out-earned Pearsall 10-6 in the target department, finishing with 89 yards and a score. I’m operating under the assumption that Jennings is good to go this week and have him ranked a touch higher than Pearsall, though both are in that WR3 tier against a Jags defense that has played well in two favorable matchups this season while getting lit up in a tough spot at Cincinnati.
This matchup doesn’t scare me, as the potential for this to be a six-target game for Pearsall, in which case you’re banking on plus-efficiency from a banged-up signal-caller in an offense that has the option to dump the ball off to Christian McCaffrey.
— PFSN Fantasy Analyst Kyle Soppe