The San Francisco 49ers used their top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on a wide receiver, largely due to uncertainty and long-term staying power of their incumbent star wideouts, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel.
First-round selection Ricky Pearsall didn't play right away last season as he was nursing an injury of his own, a scary gunshot wound during an attempted robbery right on the eve of the regular season. But it was clear he was intended to be next in the pipeline to assume bigger duties when either Aiyuk or Samuel's time in the Bay Area came to a close.
It took the former Florida Gator receiver some time to get used to San Francisco's offense when he was able to return from the incident. In Week 17 last year against the Detroit Lions, Pearsall made good on a season-high eight receptions off 10 targets by recording 141 receiving yards and a touchdown.
With Samuel no longer in the picture, and Aiyuk still sidelined because of last year's ACL and MCL tears, the second-year pro has taken every advantage to shine.
In the Niners' first three games this season, Pearsall has twice eclipsed the 100-yard mark.
This is the first time that any receiver has had two such occurrences in San Francisco's first three games since 2006.
As shared by ESPN's Nick Wagoner, Antonio Bryant accomplished this feat almost 20 years ago. In his lone season with San Francisco, Bryant hauled in 114 receiving yards in Week 1 and another 131 more such yards in Week 2.
#49ers WR Ricky Pearsall had 117 receiving yards today, giving him 100-plus in two of the first three games. He's the first Niners player with two 100+ yard receiving games in the first three contests of a season since Antonio Bryant in 2006.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) September 22, 2025
Bryant had broke 50 receiving yards just three other times that season, and the 49ers lost all three of those games. He finished with just 40 receptions, 733 yards, and three touchdowns in 2006.
Even with tight end George Kittle and receiver Jauan Jennings having big seasons last year, neither of those popular Niners targets came close to Pearsall or Bryant's feat. Kittle didn't have his first game with more than 100 receiving yards until October, and Jennings first and only such game happened in Week 3.
With Kittle on injured reserve and Jennings not being 100 percent either, Pearsall's early emergence as San Francisco's top pass catcher couldn't have come at a better time. Despite a slew of injuries on both sides of the ball, the Niners are off to a 3-0 start and sit alone atop the NFC West with two division victories already in hand.
The next closest player to Pearsall' 287 total receiving yards this season is running back Christian McCaffrey. He not only has 213 receiving yards but also has 176 rushing yards, too.
If they look to remain undefeated, the 49ers may need another 100-yard performance from their second-year star.