49ers' Pearsall to have season-ending surgery

After lengthy discussions with doctors, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is expected to undergo season-ending surgery on the nagging PCL injury that dates back to last season and will be out for the year, GM John Lynch told reporters Saturday. Pearsall was placed on injured reserve Saturday as the 49ers officially signed wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Pearsall is expected to make a full recovery in time for the 2027 season. It's the same injury that cost Pearsall all or part of 10 games last season. He initially sustained the injury in a Sept. 28 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. That followed a week in which he dealt with soreness in his left knee and was listed as questionable before playing against the Jaguars. From there, Pearsall sat out the next six games before returning Nov. 16 against the Arizona Cardinals. He played in the next four games before agitating the knee and an ankle against the Tennessee Titans. He sat out the next game against the Indianapolis Colts, returned against the Chicago Bears on Dec. 28 then sat out the next two games before returning in the NFC divisional round against the Seattle Seahawks. Pearsall had no catches or yards in that season-ending loss and finished his second NFL season with 36 receptions for 528 yards and no touchdowns over 10 games (including the postseason).