49ers' Ricky Pearsall has knee surgery, targets 9-month recovery

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- With his right knee surgery complete, San Francisco 49ers receiver Ricky Pearsall is looking ahead to the roughly nine-month recovery that awaits him before he can return to the field.

Hours after the procedure to repair the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, Pearsall took to Instagram to post a series of photos of him surrounded by family and Bible verses along with a message about what's to come.

"Now it's time," Pearsall wrote. "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...

"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."

Pearsall initially injured the knee in a Week 4 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars last season. That injury cost Pearsall all or parts of 10 games and led to conversations about whether to have surgery this offseason.

After those discussions, the Niners and Pearsall opted against surgery in hopes that rehab and rest would allow him to return to full strength. After just three training camp practices, however, Pearsall experienced swelling in the knee and he and the team began exploring their options.

In Thursday's Instagram post, Pearsall said he had "no regrets" and "no what ifs," noting that he had "nothing to be disappointed about" knowing that "I did everything I could."

The 49ers placed Pearsall on season-ending injured reserve nearly two weeks ago, ending his third season before it could begin.

If Pearsall's recovery goes as expected, he and the team believe it should take about nine months and have him ready for the start of the 2027 season. That sets up what figures to be a pivotal fourth year for Pearsall.

The Niners will have to decide on the fifth-year option next offseason with Pearsall, who never missed a game at the University of Florida, having played 20 games in three seasons. He missed the first six games of his rookie year after he was shot in an attempted robbery in San Francisco before the knee issues kept him out for chunks of last season.

For his career, Pearsall has 67 receptions for 928 yards and three touchdowns in 20 games.br/]