George Kittle credits Mac Jones for keeping 49ers afloat last season
George Kittle credited Mac Jones for helping the 49ers overcome multiple key injuries and remain successful throughout last season.
Three days into training camp, the San Francisco 49ers are already facing a potential injury to a key offensive player.
Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall sat out of practice on Wednesday, July 29 as he dealt with a swollen knee. According to reports from ESPN and The Athletic, the 49ers have “concern” about the wideout’s knee issue, which is related to the PCL injury he suffered in Week 4 last season. San Francisco is said to be “exploring all options,” including surgery, when it comes to getting Pearsall on track for the 2026 season.
Last year, the then-second-year receiver missed six straight games after sustaining the PCL injury. After returning for four matchups, Pearsall ended up missing Weeks 16 and 18 after aggravating his knee during Week 15’s clash with the Tennessee Titans.
Poor injury luck has followed Pearsall early in his career. In addition to the eight games he missed in his second season, the 49ers’ wideout also missed the first six games of his rookie year after an attempted robber shot him in the chest.
Despite the missed time in 2025, Pearsall finished the year with the third-most catches and receiving yards among San Francisco wide receivers. In total, he caught 36 of his 53 targets for 528 yards, all of which were career highs in his second season.
Pearsall’s latest setback has already pushed the 49ers into a position where their depth at wide receiver could be tested. Free-agent signing and fellow presumptive starter Christian Kirk also missed practice on July 29 while dealing with a calf injury. That the 49ers are already down two of the three receivers in their presumed starting trio means more chances for rookie De’Zhaun Stribling and veteran Demarcus Robinson to work with the starters in training camp.