It is not easy for Ricky Pearsall, whose promising NFL career just cannot get going.
In an emotional social media post on Thursday the San Francisco 49ers first round pick from 2024 confirmed the news many were expecting.
The 25-year-old will not play a snap for the franchise this season following PCL surgery which means yet more injury heartache for the wide receiver.
Only this time, it is over before it has even started.
Pearsall was placed on Injured Reserve on August 1, when the Niners confirmed that he would be undergoing surgery on his knee and he had yet to make a public comment on his season-ending setback.
However on Thursday, alongside a picture from his hospital bed, he posted an emotional – yet defiant – message to his Instagram account.
The former Arizona State and Florida receiver has suffered one setback after another since being selected with the 31st pick of the first round in 2024.
Pearsall missed the start of his first season following a gunshot wound to the chest, but made a remarkable recovery to make his debut in Week 7.
After 400 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air, to go with 45 yards on the ground in his rookie season, hopes were high in 2025 but injury made for a stop start season.
And now, in 2026, he won’t even see the field for Kyle Shanahan’s Super Bowl hopefuls.
“I gave myself time to disconnect from the world, process everything, and shift my focus toward what’s ahead over these next 9 months,” he posted.
“All I’ve ever known is football. I’ve never missed a game because of a football injury in my entire career.
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“So when I got the news, it was hard to wrap my mind around the fact that the same injury I had been fighting through, the one that was supposed to be alright, was ultimately going to require surgery and end my 2026 season.
“Just like that, face to face with another challenge.”
The 49ers have had high hopes for Pearsall, but his injury problems are in keeping with a team hit by constant injury problems.
Suggestions of those injuries being aligned to the team facility’s location to an electrical substation has long been dismissed, despite conspiracy theories refusing to go away.
Instead the focus is on recovery for Pearsall,
“Now it’s time,” his post continued that also featured a heartfelt thank you to those that have supported him.
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“Time to completely shift my mind. Time to hone in on every aspect of myself, mentally, physically, and spiritually. Time to lock it all in.
“And there’s a different kind of peace that comes with knowing you did everything in your power to prepare yourself, fight through it, and keep going. At some point, you leave the rest to God.
“The road back starts now. I’m ready for every part of it. Every early morning. Every setback. Every small win nobody sees. Every step that gets me closer to stepping back on that field.”
The signing of veteran wideouts Mike Evans and Christian Kirk in free agency should go a long way to covering his absence.
Deebo Samuel has also returned while rookie De’Zhaun Stribling has flashed in training camp and should get his chance to impress in the three preseason games that begin on Thursday night.
San Francisco face Tennessee to start their three game slate before the regular season starts.
Games against the Los Angeles Chargers and the Las Vegas Raiders follow before Week 1 starts with the near 26,000km round trip to Melbourne for the NFL‘s first ever game in Australia.
