In part because of faith in young Ricky Pearsall, the San Francisco 49ers traded away long-time star wide receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders in exchange for a fifth-round pick back in March.
And they recently even gave Pearsall the old No. 1 jersey once worn by Deebo.
But it's going to be a while before we see the new No. 1 in action.
The Niners announced on Thursday that Pearsall has a hamstring injury and therefore likely won’t return to practice until training camp.
Eventually? One of the most likely candidates to have a larger role is sophomore wideout Pearsall. And really ... In what could be taken as a sign that he is out to prove that he is coming ready to play in 2025, the 24-year-old Niner will be changing his jersey number from No. 14 to No. 1.
Pearsall wore No. 1 in his time in college at Florida, which is one of the main reasons why he jumped at the opportunity to take the number as soon as Samuel left.
The former Gator started in just four games for San Francisco in his rookie season, but he impressed in the snaps he was given. He racked up 400 yards and three touchdowns after he returned from a gunshot wound injury he sustained during an attempted robbery.
Pearsall still appeared in 11 games in 2024 for the Niners, but it obviously took him a while to get going, as one would expect after being shot.
The 49ers had a disappointing season in 2024, finishing dead last in the NFC West with a 6-11 record. Pearsall will be looking to step up in his sophomore season and help the team get back to their winning ways. ... eventually.
