49ers’ Ricky Pearsall Gets Blunt Message After Win Over Cardinals

The San Francisco 49ers have been hit hard with injuries to the wide receiver group heading into and through three games to start the 2025 NFL season. However, with players missing, Ricky Pearsall is allowed to step up and become a reliable target.

Pearsall recorded 400 receiving yards last season in 11 games for the 49ers, per Pro Football Reference. Nonetheless, the 25-year-old is close to reaching that mark in Year 2. He’s recorded 100-plus receiving yards in two of the three games he’s played this season. Additionally, his best performance came in the 16-15 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.

Against Arizona, Pearsall recorded eight receptions for 114 receiving yards. One player who was impressed with the receiver’s performance was veteran Kendrick Bourne.

“Oh my goodness, man, he’s impressive,” Bourne said postgame (h/t KNBR). “Just coming in, the energy was so connective between us, just dancing and enjoying each other.

“We made a handshake so fast. I’m just proud of him. I told him his conditioning, his stamina, is top-tier. If he can play like that he’s going to have a great career. He’s going to get paid a lot of money.”

Ricky Pearsall Has Become the Go-to Guy for 49ers

Of the eight catches Pearsall made for the 49ers, the most impactful came in the fourth quarter. Pearsall got a clean release off the line on a crucial fourth-and-2 from the Cardinals’ 40-yard line and pulled in a 34-yard pass from quarterback Mac Jones, setting up Kyle Juszczyk’s go-ahead touchdown.

The University of Florida product has emerged as the team’s primary target. Jones threw to Pearsall a career-high 11 times, just four shy of Christian McCaffrey, who served as the safety net on most passing plays.

“I always think that we’re going to win,” Pearsall said when asked about the 49ers’ mentality heading into their game-winning drive (h/t NBC Sports Bay Area & California). “When we got the ball and we got two minutes left and we’re driving down the field, I have all the confidence in the world in Mac and entire offense to go down there and win the game for us.

“It really shows what kind of team we have to be able to go through adversity the entire game and the offense is able to put up points at the end to win the game.”

Ricky Pearsall Looks to Live Up to First-Round Pick Status

San Francisco chose Pearsall with the 31st overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and for him, Sunday was simply another step in his professional growth. Each play in games and every practice rep helps the wide receiver develop into the player the 49ers hoped he would become.

“I’m building more and more confidence the more I’m playing, the more I’m practicing and getting reps in the offense; I’m very confident,” Pearsall said. “I’m super blessed and happy to be in this situation I am, especially considering the situation that I had to go through last year.

“There’s a lot of things to be happy and excited about each and every day. I wake up and I just remind myself of that every single day. There’s a lot to be thankful for.”

Las Vegas Raiders: Pete Carroll's Frustration as Tom Brady's Influence Disrupts Team's Focus

The Las Vegas Raiders' struggles in the 2025 NFL season have led to growing frustration within the team, with interim head coach

Pete Carroll making a bold statement about the external influence affecting the Raiders' performance. After consecutive losses, Carroll pointed to Tom Brady's overwhelming presence and his growing role with the team as a contributing factor to the Raiders' current woes.

"I feel like everything is being pulled in different directions by decisions outside of our control, and when someone like Tom Brady has so much influence, it creates a disruption in our decision-making. It feels like our progress is being held back by external factors, and that’s what’s hurting us,"

Carroll said, expressing his dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs. These comments have raised questions about the balance of power within the Raiders organization, as Brady, a minority owner of the team and a former NFL superstar, has been involved in various aspects of team operations, from providing game insights to having influence on coaching strategies.

The Raiders, now 1-3, have been inconsistent on the field, struggling to find their rhythm despite a roster full of talent. Geno Smith, the team's quarterback, has had a rocky start, with the offense unable to find its groove in key moments. Wide receiver

Davante Adams has continued to perform at a high level, but the lack of a solid offensive scheme has made it easier for opposing defenses to shut down the Raiders' attacks. On defense,

Maxx Crosby has been one of the few bright spots, but the team's inability to stop the run and generate turnovers has kept them from being competitive in games.

Carroll's comments are significant not only because of the frustration behind them, but because they point to a deeper issue within the Raiders' culture. Brady's involvement, while meant to offer expertise and guidance, has raised concerns about the blurred lines between ownership, coaching, and player development.

"When decisions are being made by people who aren’t directly involved with the team’s day-to-day operations, it starts to create confusion and a lack of cohesion," Carroll added.

As the Raiders prepare for their Week 5 matchup against the

Denver Broncos, the pressure is mounting. The team is in desperate need of a turnaround, and it remains to be seen whether they can regain focus and discipline amidst the chaos surrounding them. Carroll’s leadership, along with the performance of key players like Smith and Crosby, will be crucial in determining whether the Raiders can recover or continue their downward spiral.

The eyes of the NFL community are now on the Raiders as they try to find stability and unity within a team that has been disrupted both on and off the field.

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