Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall's much-anticipated return to the San Francisco 49ers lineup in Week 11's victory over the Arizona Cardinals didn't exactly garner a lot of postgame headlines.
After all, the 2024 first-round NFL Draft pick was held to just one catch for no yards after spending Weeks 5 through 10 dealing with a PCL injury in his knee.
Yet the Niners wholly upended the Arizona Cardinals in that game, and despite the unimpressive box score, Pearsall nevertheless made a difference by opening up the Cards defense and allowing other pass catchers to make plays.
It might be time for those pass catchers to return the favor in Pearsall's direction when San Francisco hosts the Carolina Panthers on Monday Night Football in Week 12.
For starters, it helps Pearsall has the previous week to shake off any proverbial rust. And while offensive weapons like tight end George Kittle and running back Christian McCaffrey figure to be quarterback Brock Purdy's go-to options, the second-year wide receiver is poised to have the kind of statement game not unlike those seen at the outset of the 2025 campaign.
49ers should expect Ricky Pearsall to tee off vs. Panthers on Monday night
Carolina isn't exactly known for having an elite pass defense. That bodes well for Pearsall in several ways.
For starters, and not unlike that of the 49ers, the Panthers have an almost non-existent pass rush, boasting one more sack than the league-lowest 12 the Niners currently have. That bodes well for Purdy to have plenty of time in and around the pocket, thereby allowing Pearsall to run his routes.
In direct relation, Carolina is surrendering an average of 6.6 net passing yards per attempt, 25th in the league.
Over the previous two weeks, the Panthers have allowed a 100-yard receiver: the New Orleans Saints' Chris Olave in Week 10 and then the Atlanta Falcons' Drake London in Week 11, suggesting the trend is already there for Pearsall to capitalize.
Should he do so, it'd be the third time during his abbreviated season in which Pearsall has crested 100 yards in a single game.
And that'd unquestionable work well toward San Francisco's would-be eighth victory of the season when it hosts Carolina on Monday, Nov. 24 at 8:15 p.m. ET.