As the latest San Francisco inactives list revealed, wide receiver Ricky Pearsall’s game status has officially been marked as out due to a knee injury ahead of hosting the Atlanta Falcons in Sunday Night Football action.
While it’s being reported that Pearsall is expected to be ready for Week 8, Week 7 will remain without a player who’s quietly become one of the NFL’s breakout stars. The 49ers will have to once again turn to other receivers on their depth chart as they look to improve from 4-2 to 5-2 against a 3-2 Atlanta team.
Why is Ricky Pearsall Still Not Playing for the San Francisco 49ers?
It surfaced around two weeks ago that Pearsall suffered a minor PCL injury during Week 4 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and while the damage wasn’t considered season-threatening, the team was not taking any chances.
It was initially reported that the decision to sit Pearsall was simply precautionary following a tough landing as a result of a catch attempt.
At the time of his injury, Pearsall had been one of the league’s most productive receivers, logging 20 catches for 327 yards in just four games. According to PFSN’s WRi metric, he currently ranks as the fifth-best wide receiver in the NFL, a testament to his explosive start.
Brock Purdy and Ricky Pearsall are out for Week 7.
Full @DignityHealth inactives list: https://t.co/gW89J7FpHe pic.twitter.com/49plkEaBWt
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 19, 2025
Pearsall, 25, is a Florida alum who stands at 6’1″ and weighs 189 pounds. San Francisco originally selected him with the No. 31 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. His rookie season saw him finish with three touchdown receptions and 400 total receiving yards.
With the Gators, the WR led the team in receptions with 65 during his final season (2023). He was also named a Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2021.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan has since turned to Kendrick Bourne and Demarcus Robinson to fill the void left by Pearsall. Jauan Jennings, Skyy Moore, and Jordan Watkins could also see action.
But the ripple effect of Pearsall’s absence goes beyond a couple of weeks of missed play. If the 49ers’ offense sputters without their rising star, it could force Shanahan to rethink the team’s offensive approach, especially if Pearsall’s knee requires more time to heal.
This will be Pearsall’s third consecutive missed game.
The 49ers currently lead the NFC West and hold the tiebreaker over both the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks after beating both teams earlier this year. A big win over the Falcons is considered a must-win.
San Francisco quarterback Mac Jones has currently thrown for 1,252 yards on 113 completions through four games played this season. Fellow signal-caller Brock Purdy is still recovering from a toe injury and was also featured on the most recent injury report.