It shouldn't come as much of a surprise, given the current state of the 49ers' wide receiver room. Brandon Aiyuk is expected to miss at least the first five games of the season while recovering from ACL and MCL injuries. Jauan Jennings, who was slated to step into the WR1 role, continues to battle a lingering calf injury with no firm return timeline—plus, he wants a new contract.
The depth chart has been further tested with injuries to Russell Gage, Jordan Watkins, and Jacob Cowing, while veteran Demarcus Robinson will serve a three-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.
That leaves Pearsall with a golden opportunity to step into a featured role. His growing chemistry with quarterback Brock Purdy, which has been on display throughout training camp—and in their lone preseason drive together—suggests he could become a reliable target early in the season.
Pearsall flashed promise in his rookie year, recording 31 receptions for 400 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games, despite missing the first six contests after suffering a gunshot wound to the chest. An offseason hamstring injury briefly set him back, but now healthy, the 49ers' second-year wideout could be primed for a breakout NFL season.
Davenport even believes Pearsall could open the year as the 49ers' top wide receiver.
"Add in the reports of improved chemistry between Pearsall and 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy," Davenport wrote, "and a pass-catcher who was little more than a late-round flier early in the summer now has the look of a viable third fantasy starter—at least.
"And if Pearsall can make the most of what could be an extended audition in this role, then even once Jennings and Aiyuk return, he could remain a big part of Kyle Shanahan's offense.
"If his rising asking price in drafts is any indication, quite a few drafters expect him to."
The 49ers close out their preseason Saturday night against the Los Angeles Chargers before shifting focus to their Week 1 road matchup against the Seattle Seahawks on September 7.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
The Stat No One's Talking About That Could Define the 49ers' 2025 Season
A lot has been written about the outstanding performance of San Francisco's coaching staff this year. Head coach Kyle Shanahan deserves all the praise for the work he's done with the offense and the overall team chemistry. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, of course, is... -
Schefter highlights 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey's historic 2025 season
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is putting together a season for the history books. While he's averaging a career-low 3.6 yards per carry, his versatility as a playmaker in both the running and passing game makes him one of quarterback Brock Purdy's most... -
49ers nominate Kyle Juszczyk for 2025 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award
The NFL announced the 32 nominees for the 12th annual Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. Each NFL team nominated a player for the award, which recognizes individuals around the league who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship. The San Francisco 49ers nominated fullback Kyle Juszczyk... -
49ers safety Ji'Ayir Brown named NFC Defensive Player of the Week
San Francisco 49ers safety Ji'Ayir Brown has been named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week after a standout Week 12 performance against the Carolina Panthers. Brown delivered one of the strongest games of his NFL career, finishing with five tackles and two passes...