In March of last year, the San Francisco 49ers dealt their longtime standout wide receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders in return for a fifth-round pick. And it will be some time before Ricky Pearsall takes over.
The San Francisco 49ers dealt longtime great wide receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders in March for a fifth-round pick, in part due to their faith in rookie Ricky Pearsall.
Additionally, they recently awarded Pearsall Deebo’s old No. 1 jersey. However, we won’t see the new No. 1 in action for some time.
Pearsall is expected to miss practice until training camp due to a hamstring issue, the Niners reported on Thursday.
Finally? Pearsall, a sophomore wide receiver, is among the most likely players to play a bigger role. And in fact… The 24-year-old Niner will be switching his jersey number from No. 14 to No. 1, which might be interpreted as an indication that he is determined to demonstrate that he is ready to play in 2025.
One of the primary reasons Pearsall seized the chance to take the number as soon as Samuel left was because he had worn No. 1 throughout his time at Florida for college.
In his first season, the former Gator made just four starts for San Francisco, but he was effective in the few games he did play. After recovering from a gunshot wound he received during an attempted robbery, he amassed 400 yards and three touchdowns.
As one might anticipate after being shot, Pearsall took some time to get going, but he still made 11 appearances for the Niners in 2024.
With a 6-11 record in 2024, the 49ers had a dismal season and finished last in the NFC West. In his sophomore season, Pearsall hopes to make a big impact and help the squad return to its winning ways. Eventually.