Latest Buzz About This Key San Francisco 49ers Wide Receiver is Hard to Ignore

Nearly two weeks into San Francisco 49ers training camp, insiders are buzzing about wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. 

On Saturday August 2, 2025, longtime 49ers insider Matt Maiocco had a bold take on Pearsall. 

“Ricky Pearsall completed his first full week of practice with a very active day,” Maiocco wrote in a post on X. “He has looked very good — the best 49ers wide receiver on the field — in the time he’s been out there.” 

NFL fans and media members around the league took that comment and ran with it. Many suggested it’s a clear sign that Pearsall will be a sneaky good fantasy football option this season. 

The 49ers obviously have more established wideouts Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk in their building. Both have been injured, but Jennings has hit the field for some of training camp.

Then, after practice on August 4, 2025, 49ers insider Grant Cohn had an even bolder take on Pearsall. 

“Ricky Pearsall freaking dominated,” Cohn said in a video posted to X about Pearsall’s performance at day 9 of training camp. “This was his coming out party. He was the entire offense — the best player on the field for the offense.” 

During 11-on-11 drills on that fateful Day 9 practice, Sunday August 3, 2025, the Brock Purdy to Pearsall connection was a perfect 5-for-5. 

Pearsall’s performance is great for 49ers fans to see. Especially after injuries limited his involvement in some of the 49ers offseason workouts. 

Purdy’s Comments on Pearsall

During his media availability on Friday August 1, 2025 following day 8 of 49ers training camp, quarterback Brock Purdy was asked about his connection with Ricky Pearsall.

Purdy explained why he didn’t target Pearsall as much early in the season. But he also pointed out how they developed chemistry as the season went on and why they could be a formidable duo this season. 

“Ricky was raw with his talent,” Purdy said. “He had to learn our system, our timing, where I’m throwing the ball. He’s got a lot of shimmy, which is great and we need that against man to man coverage to create separation, but there were times he had to learn that he can’t take a couple more steps and then break out.” 

“That’s part of getting into the NFL and learning the system, and a quarterback and receiver talking and getting to know each other. It has gotten better for sure.” 

Pearsall Opens Up About Shooting Recovery

Also in the headlines about Ricky Pearsall has been his most recent comments regarding the gunshot wound he suffered back on August 31, 2024, during an attempted robbery in San Francisco. 

During his recent media availability at 49ers training camp, Pearsall got honest about how the gunshot wound affected his development. 

“I just felt like I was behind the eight ball,” Pearsall said. “I like to say that I rolled out of bed and started running routes because I near did. You can’t really rehab a gunshot wound. So I basically rolled out of bed and started running routes in Week 7… From that Week 7 and on, that was my training camp. Those practices in between, before the games, that was my training camp, for me.”

Pearsall did have 14 catches for 210 yards and 2 touchdowns in his last two games of the 2024 season. Perhaps that was a peek at what he’s really capable of with a full offseason of regular development under his belt. 

Pearsall also reiterated that he’s open to meeting the teenager from Tracy, CA who shot him at some point. But not in the near future as he is focused on other things. 

49ers fans, do you think Ricky Pearsall will be the best wide receiver on the team this season?