San Francisco 49ers Welcomed Back Deebo Samuel Sr. As Ricky Pearsall Heads to IR
As we gear up for the 2026 NFL season, there are always news and notes. We’ll focus on the Bay area team in this article as they have things going on. Not the least of which is that the San Francisco 49ers welcomed back Deebo Samuel Sr. as Ricky Pearsall heads to IR. In addition, linebacker Dre Greenlaw is back with the squad. The 49ers drafted both Samuel and Greenlaw in the 2019 NFL Draft.
It’s interesting that Samuel is back with the 49ers considering it didn’t cost them much to offload him. He was traded to the Washington Commanders at the start of the new league year in 2025 on March 12. Nevertheless, he said Saturday that he feels right at home with the team that drafted him in 2019.
“It kind of felt like I didn’t even go nowhere, to be honest,” Samuel said. “When I got back, I was just like, ‘Well, I know what’s going on. I know the people here. Staff still the same.’ So it’s kind of like the same for real.”
He signed his one-year deal worth up to $7 million with the Niners on Friday and was on the practice field Saturday. However, like Samuel, Greenlaw is also happy to be back in San Francisco. Head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch had tried to convince him to stay with the team but he had already committed to signing with the Broncos. Greenlaw was considered a crucial part of the 49ers team. Hence Shanahan said: “I I think there’s a boost for everybody,” Shanahan said. “Everyone loves Dre being around, just the way he carries himself and how into football he is.”
San Francisco 49ers Welcomed Back Deebo Samuel Sr. As Ricky Pearsall Heads to IR
But in spite of the happy reunions, there was also bad news for the 49ers. Ricky Pearson was placed on injured reserve Saturday and will undergo season-ending PCL surgery on his right knee. According to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport: “#49ers WR Ricky Pearsall, who has been bothered by a PCL injury, is having surgery to repair the ligament, procedure that ends his season, GM John Lynch announced. A frustrating outcome for SF. Ricky Pearsall, who has been dealing with this PCL issue since last season and attempted to rehab it, faces a 9-month recovery. Same timeframe as an ACL.”
So, the 49ers will be relying on older veterans like Samuel and Greenlaw while missing out on a younger Pearsall. It is a frustrating end for Pearsall, who has been productive when he’s on the field, but has missed 14 games over his first two seasons. The 49ers face an uphill battle as they start the new season with older players.
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