San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak spoke with reporters on Tuesday morning ahead of the team's sixth training camp practice, providing insight into the development of two young wide receivers—Ricky Pearsall and rookie Jordan Watkins.
Rookie Jordan Watkins making his case
Watkins, a fourth-round draft pick, turned heads during San Francisco's offseason program and continues to make a strong case for early playing time.
"Another guy we're impressed with," Kubiak said. "Mentally, he did a good job in the spring. Obviously, he had a good OTAs, but coming back, and just starting to stack days, and stacking the mental.
"That's the strain on a rookie. Obviously, the strain on your body, but then the mental strain of showing up to practice every day, and being on it. And he does that.
"He has shown that he can handle the mental load. He does a really good job, and he's just got to keep getting better and keep showing up to practice and getting after it."
Ricky Pearsall overcoming adversity
First-round pick Ricky Pearsall, entering his second NFL offseason, is looking to build on a rookie year that began with adversity. He missed the first six games of the 2024 season after being shot in the chest as the victim in an attempted robbery.
Despite the setback, Pearsall closed his rookie season strong, finishing with 31 catches for 400 yards and three touchdowns—210 yards and two scores coming in the final two games.
Kubiak praised Pearsall's intelligence and work ethic.
"Ricky's a really sharp guy," Kubiak noted. "He learns really quickly. Never really been much of an issue for him. He's just got to keep getting his body in shape."
Pearsall opened training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list due to a hamstring injury, but was activated on Sunday.
"He's missed some time," Kubiak continued, "and Ricky's got to show up every day, and just keep getting in shape, and get his legs back and, like the rest of these guys, get to that point we need them to in the preseason where they're just stacking days and getting ready for Week 1."
High expectations for Pearsall's growth
Kubiak was asked what excites the 49ers about the second-year wideout's upside.
"I just think the more Ricky's out there, the more you see him, his route running, how polished it can become," Kubiak responded. "I think as the year went on last year, he just got so much better versus man-to-man coverage. The more man coverage you see, the more physical DB play you see, Ricky gets better, and that excites me a lot.
"He's a guy who's going to rise to the occasion with more physical defensive back play, but he's got to be out there. He's got to be consistent. Ricky just gets better and better the more he's out there. And so, he's just got to stay out there, and stay healthy, and take care of his body. I think the sky's the limit for him."
With Pearsall looking to build on his late-season momentum and Watkins pushing for a role as a rookie, the 49ers' receiving corps could be underrated heading into the 2025 season.