By admin 
The stage could be set for a Deebo Samuel reunion with the San Francisco 49ers.
The team should be expected to at least consider it, given the injuries to their receivers early in training camp, while Samuel remains a free agent following his departure from the Washington Commanders in the spring.
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San Francisco on Wednesday announced that third-year wideout Ricky Pearsall, a projected starter after being drafted in the first round in 2024, will miss time with knee swelling in his right knee. The injury is related to the PCL injury he suffered in Week 4 of last season that cost him eight games, including the playoff opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.
A team spokesperson said Wednesday there is “concern” regarding Pearsall’s injury and surgery is among the treatment options being considered, which would leave a void atop the depth chart that Samuel could slide into.
Pearsall’s injury comes while durability was his biggest question entering his third NFL season — and the 49ers were already dealing with a calf strain for free agent addition Christian Kirk, who went down in the early stages of the first training camp practice Sunday. Kirk and Pearsall were projected to be among the team’s top four wideouts heading into the season.
Bringing Samuel back would mark the second straight year the 49ers brought back a former wideout due to injury to an incumbent. The team re-signed Kendrick Bourne, who joined the 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and played 2021 through 2024 with the New England Patriots, when Jauan Jennings suffered a shoulder injury in last year’s season opener.
Bourne didn’t miss a game and finished fourth on the team with 551 receiving yards behind Christian McCaffrey (924), Jennings (643) and George Kittle (628). If Pearsall misses time, bringing back Samuel would follow similar logic. Samuel has enjoyed particular success against the Los Angeles Rams, the 49ers’ Week 1 opponent; his seven touchdowns against them are tied with the Seattle Seahawks for the most he’s scored against any team.
Samuel could conceivably slot into the “Z” receiver spot he used to play with San Francisco opposite newcomer Mike Evans, who is entrenched in the “X” role on the boundary.
Samuel, who turned 30 in January, also played 16 games last season for Washington. Though he saw his yards-per-catch number dip to a career-low 10.1 yards. He had 72 catches for 727 yards and six total touchdowns. He was used much more sparingly in the running game than previously with 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan as his play-caller, getting just 17 carries after 52 in 2024 with the 49ers.
Of course, Samuel is long removed from his 2021 form when he logged 1,770 scrimmage yards and scored 14 total touchdowns while earning his only All-Pro and Pro-Bowl nods. But he had more than 800 total yards and scored 10 combined touchdowns over the last two years, which the 49ers could use if Pearsall’s absence is significant.
Do the 49ers need Samuel?
One of the stories of the first week of 49ers training camp has been the play of top draft pick De’Zhaun Stribling.
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The receiver drafted out of Ole Miss continued to impress during practice Wednesday, catching multiple passes in team drills from starting quarterback Brock Purdy and leaping high for an acrobatic grab over the middle from reserve Adrian Martinez.
Stribling has gotten positive reviews from veteran teammates dating back to his work during the spring program after the 49ers made him the No. 33 overall pick in the recent NFL draft. And with Pearsall out and Jennings gone to the Minnesota Vikings, Stribling could have a chance to be a significant contributor in his first season.
“I feel like is very well set up and prepared to be able to contribute early,” 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk said. “I’ve loved his mindset, he’s a grinder. He’s one that takes the classroom seriously. He’ll do whatever he’s asked to do. In OTAs, no pads, he’s digging out defensive ends on the back side.
“That’s not what people are always trying to hear about a receiver, but for our offense that’s what they’re going to be asked to do. But I’ve also been impressed with him as far as route running, the physicality, the top-end speed that he has. I’m really excited about Stribling.”
Stribling enters the NFL as an older prospect at 23 and is used to adjusting to new surroundings after moving around a lot. He spent two seasons each at Washington State (2021, 2022) and Oklahoma State (2023, 2024) before finishing at Ole Miss in 2025.
Other 49ers receivers who stand to take on bigger roles with Pearsall out include Jordan Watkins, Demarcus Robinson and Jacob Cowing. Watkins’ presence was felt on the practice field Wednesday with multiple catches in full-team drills.
Watkins, a fifth-round pick in 2025, had a promising offseason last spring and summer before a preseason high ankle sprain prevented him from having a productive rookie season. He made just two catches while playing in four games. He’s among the team’s options to return kicks and punts.
“Jordan’s taken a step,” offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said Wednesday. “He went through a rookie year with ups and downs of injuries. He’s been a lot more consistent. We like to see that. He was like that in the offseason. He looks that way now.”
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