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(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

The San Francisco 49ers decided to invest in their wideout position this offseason, signing Mike Evans and Christian Kirk in free agency while drafting De’Zhaun Stribling in Round 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Last season, the Niners dealt with the entire Brandon Aiyuk situation that saw the wideout not play a game. Then, there were the injuries to wideout Ricky Pearsall. Moreover, this offseason, San Francisco allowed Jauan Jennings to leave as a free agent as he signed with the Minnesota Vikings.

While the Niners will have a new look wideout group, Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport predicts that Pearsall will be one of six players who will have a breakout 2026 season despite the additions of Evans and Kirk.

“It’s not like free-agent additions Mike Evans and Christian Kirk don’t have injury issues of their own—the veteran duo combined to miss 13 games last year,” Davenport wrote in a May 9 article. “Even with Evans and Kirk out there, Pearsall should not only see targets with George Kittle’s early-season availability in question, but will see them in single coverage.

“Those flashes were almost 15 yards per reception in 2026. Pearsall has been written off in many circles. But there’s a legitimate scenario where Pearsall has far and away the best season of his career this year.”

Last season for the Niners, Pearsall posted a 73.5 overall PFF grade. Furthermore, hauled in 36 receptions on 52 targets for 528 receiving yards and zero touchdowns while averaging 14.7 yards per reception and generating 78 yards after the catch.

49ers Need Ricky Pearsall to Stay Healthy

Recently, former 49ers safety Donte Whitner noted that Pearsall needs to find a way to stay healthy on the field as he enters his third year in the NFL.

“The number one attribute for any professional athlete is availability. Yeah, being shot while being robbed is not his responsibility, but it is still on your track record,” Whitner said on the March 25 edition of the “Grit Code Podcast.”

“Last year coming into the season and healed up from the shot wound: PCL, knee injury, ankle, inconsistency and a lack of availability. That’s year two. Now we did see him flash. We did see his ability to separate. We did see him make plays, but we didn’t see it when it counted.

“Now you go into year three… If Ricky Pearsall misses around 50% of the availability in the games this year, I can say that it’s probably over for the perception of Ricky Pearsall developing into a number one wide receiver in Kyle Shanahan’s offense.”

While Evans and Kirk have a track record of getting injured, Pearsall can’t afford to have an injury-plagued season. If those two miss games, it’s the opening he needs to establish himself as the go-to guy for QB Brock Purdy.

George Kittle Told to Be Cautious in Return From Injury

Furthermore, with George Kittle likely missing time to start the 2026 season, there will be targets for Pearsall and others to go around. When it comes to the veteran tight end, former NFL wide receiver Cris Carter said he should take the first month off as a precaution, which would benefit Pearsall.

“If I’m him, I’m not playing until Week 5, ” Carter said on the May 4 edition of the “Fully Loaded Podcast.” “I’m going to give the NFL a good college season. I’m going to give y’all a hard 12 games. You’ve got a hard 12 coming this year.”