49ers Insider Matt Maiocco: Ricky Pearsall Could Miss Season w/ PCL Injury

Rich asked Matt Maiocco whether the 49ers were staring at another incomplete Ricky Pearsall training camp. Maiocco's answer did not leave much room for optimism.

"Yes, absolutely," Maiocco said. "And it might be worse than that, Rich."

The injury is the posterior cruciate ligament Pearsall banged up last year. He played half the season on it, it never got right, and every time he came back he would aggravate it and miss more time. The plan this offseason was patience, because that is usually the correct plan with a PCL.

"The expectation was that, as it often does with the PCL, that it would heal on its own," Maiocco said. "That's why the 49ers proceeded the way they did. Rest, go through a regular off-season program."

It seemed to work. Then, two practices into camp, the same knee started swelling.

Now the team is looking at every option, and Maiocco was clear about what "every option" is code for. Surgery. Specifically a reconstruction of the PCL, which would end Pearsall's season before it starts.

The frustrating math is the part Maiocco kept circling. Why deal with this in August instead of February or March? Because they genuinely believed no surgery would be required. Had they operated early in the offseason, Pearsall probably would not have missed this season at all.

That turns a pick the 49ers may have viewed as a luxury into something closer to a lifeline. San Francisco's first selection in the second round, Struble, is wearing number 15 and, per Maiocco, has had a really good camp.

"Now, it's a necessity," Maiocco said. "Now, they need him. They need him in a big way."

The rest of the receiver room is thin and getting thinner. Mike Evans is there. So are Demarcus Robinson, Jacob Cowing, and Jordan Watkins. Christian Kirk is banged up as well with a calf strain.

Which is exactly the kind of vacuum that produces fan-base fever dreams, and the 49er faithful have already landed on one.

"We're hearing the name, you know, the fan base, the 49er faithful are talking about bringing Deebo Samuel back," Maiocco said.

He does not think it happens immediately. He does think somebody gets brought in, if only to spread the wear and tear off the healthy bodies. His read is that the 49ers roll with the younger guys, get them up to speed, and go from there.

"But right now, man, it's not looking good for Ricky Pearsall's season."

Rich, for the record, drew the line where you would expect.

"Ain't going to be Aiyuk. That's who they're not bringing back."

"That's one that I think we all can agree on," Maiocco said.

So the door stays cracked on Samuel. Not because it is a great idea, exactly, but because the alternative is a receiver room held together with a rookie corner of the depth chart and a lot of hope.

"There been worse ideas," Rich said, "if this is in fact the case."