Since being activated from the non-football injury list on October 19, Pearsall has played in three games. His breakout moment came on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he recorded his first career touchdown and a personal-best 73 receiving yards.
"It was a huge moment. It really was," general manager John Lynch said on Bay Area radio station KNBR Friday morning.
Pearsall has accumulated 132 receiving yards this season and is beginning to hit his stride. For Lynch, the rookie is now showing flashes of the talent that made him the 31st overall pick in April.
"I always like watching the process," Lynch shared. "People always say with a rookie, 'When did it click?' But to me, Ricky looked like the guy we thought we were getting, drafting him. Not that we were ever disappointed, but I think the combination of his legs getting underneath him, him being a little clouded, learning the offense because he hadn't had the chance.
"It just look last week like, 'Man, all right, this is the Ricky Pearsall that we thought we were getting.' And man, he's even more."
The 49ers are counting on Pearsall to step up in the absence of star wideout Brandon Aiyuk, who is out for the season with a torn ACL and MCL. Given Pearsall's resilience and early flashes of brilliance, Lynch is confident the rookie can meet the heightened expectations.
"What a great kid. What a mentally tough kid," Lynch said. "What a physically tough kid, what he's endured. And I think he's just so grateful to be alive, to be out there on the football field. He's loving every step of it. I think he's a guy we're just going to watch get better every day right before our eyes. And he's going to be a really good football player for a long time for us."
You can listen to Lynch's entire interview below.
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
John Lynch insists 49ers have an offseason recovery plan: 'We've got this thing called the draft'
General manager John Lynch attended Stanford's Pro Day on Wednesday, a short commute from the San Francisco 49ers' home base in Santa Clara. He spoke to reporters after the event—his first media availability since the NFL Scouting Combine last month. According to Matt... -
John Lynch opens up about 49ers releasing and re-signing Kyle Juszczyk
Speaking to reporters after Stanford's Pro Day on Wednesday, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch admitted that this offseason has been difficult. He and his team were forced to sit on the sidelines as free agency kicked off, unable to be as active as they were used... -
John Lynch suggests Dre Greenlaw replacement may already be on 49ers' roster
Dre Greenlaw is widely considered one of the San Francisco 49ers' most significant free-agent losses this offseason, which is notable considering the linebacker appeared in just two games last season and didn't finish either. In fact, he has missed significant time in two of... -
49ers express interest in potential Dre Greenlaw replacement at Oregon Pro Day
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch and several team scouts were in Eugene on Tuesday for Oregon's Pro Day, where linebacker Jeffrey Bassa showcased his skills to NFL teams. With Dre Greenlaw's departure to the Denver Broncos, the 49ers could be in the market for a...