Ricky Pearsall's knee is a problem again. The San Francisco 49ers wide receiver was held out of Wednesday's training camp practice with swelling in his right knee, and the team says all options are being explored, per ESPN's Nick Wagoner and Adam Schefter. Surgery has not been ruled out.
What happened to Pearsall's knee
The swelling connects back to the PCL injury Pearsall suffered in Week 4 of the 2025 season against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He landed hard on his right knee going for a catch and missed roughly six to eight weeks, eventually playing in just nine games. He finished 2025 with 36 receptions for 528 yards and zero touchdowns.
The fact that the same knee is now swelling up at the start of training camp, and that the franchise is already talking about concern and all options, suggests this is not a minor flare-up.
Does this affect his 2026 fantasy outlook?
Yes, significantly. If surgery becomes the path forward, Pearsall could miss weeks or the entire early portion of the season. Even if he avoids surgery, the 49ers' language here is not the kind teams use when they expect a quick return.
Pearsall has played in 11 games or fewer in each of his first two seasons. In 2024, a preseason gunshot wound cost him half the year. In 2025, the PCL did. Now the same knee is swelling before a single padded practice. The reliability concern is real.
Who benefits in San Francisco
Christian Kirk is also currently sidelined with a calf strain, leaving the 49ers short on healthy wide receivers at camp. Rookie De'Zhaun Stribling is the name to watch on the waiver wire if Pearsall misses extended time. Stribling profiles as a potential deep-league add with upside if the injury situation worsens.
If you're rostering Pearsall in a redraft league, treat him as a late-round flier at best until there's clarity on whether surgery is happening. In dynasty, his value is taking another hit from an already limited track record.
