With Deebo Samuel traded to the Washington Commanders, Brandon Aiyuk starting the season on the PUP list as he continued his recovery from a torn ACL, the drama surrounding Jauan Jennings (whether it be his contract or his injury issues), and free-agent pickup Demarcus Robinson suspended for the first three games of the season, the San Francisco 49ers desperately needed Ricky Pearsall to step up and deliver in the early weeks of this 2025 campaign.
And the second-year star in the making has done precisely that.
In the Niners' Week 1 comeback win over the Seattle Seahawks, Pearsall recorded the second 100-yard game of his young career, catching four passes from Brock Purdy for 117 yards. In Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints, with Mac Jones under center, his numbers took a little dip, as he went for 56 yards on another four receptions. But in Week 3, he was back in triple digits, going for 117 yards on eight catches in a 16-15 win over the Arizona Cardinals to help the 49ers improve to 3-0.
Add all that up, and Pearsall's 281 receiving yards ranked third in the NFL through Week 3, trailing only fellow NFC West wideouts Puka Nacua (33) of the Los Angeles Rams and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (323) of the aforementioned Seahawks.
And whether it's Purdy or Jones taking the snaps this Sunday when San Francisco welcomes the Jacksonville Jaguars to Levi's Stadium, Pearsall seems primed to have a huge Week 4.
Per NFL Next Gen Stats, the 25-year-old ranks first in the league with 264 receiving yards on downfield targets of 10-plus yards. And his plus-93 yards over expected on those targets are 24 more than any other pass catcher.
On the flip side of things, Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell has given up the sixth-most receiving yards (138) of any defensive back on downfield passes in 2025. The fifth-year veteran is also one of nine cornerbacks to have allowed multiple downfield touchdowns.
On the opposite side of the field, Florida State alum Jarrian Jones, against whom Pearsall played his final collegiate game with the Florida Gators, has allowed seven completions for 85 yards on 11 overall passes thrown in his direction and has also given up a touchdown on a downfield throw.
Despite all of Pearsall's success this season, he's oddly yet to find the end zone. So, perhaps this is his week. But even if he fails to score a touchdown, the Niners' newest big weapon seems destined for another productive performance.