49ers rule out Pearsall this season; bid adieu to contract czar Marathe

SANTA CLARA — Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, the 49ers’ first-round draft pick in 2024, will undergo season-ending knee surgery, general manager John Lynch announced before Saturday’s practice at training camp.

“He’s gutted, we’re gutted,” Lynch said. “He’s a really good football player and a really important member of our team. … He still has a bright future. We’ll get this taken care of.”

Wide receiver Deebo Samuel’s return to the 49ers, starting with Saturday’s practice, wasn’t so much intended as a contingency regarding Pearsall’s health but rather a complement to a revised receiving corps, Lynch said.

Pearsall injured the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in Week 4 last season, after posting a pair of 100-yard outings in the first three games. He subsequently missed eight games as well as their wild-card playoff upset at Philadelphia before returning for the divisional-round exit at Seattle.

Pearsall looked sharp through two practices this training camp, including multiple catches late in Monday’s session. His knee experienced swelling afterward with what Lynch called the “rigors of camp.”

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MARATHE MOVING ON

Paraag Marathe, the 49ers’ chief contract negotiator for much of the past 25 years and their executive vice president, is leaving the franchise’s football operations to focus on 49ers Enterprises’ ownership of soccer teams in the United Kingdom.

Marathe, 49ers Enterprises’ president, has overseen Leeds United’s rise to the Premier League, and his full-time role there also includes the recent acquisition of Rangers Football Club in Glasgow, Scotland.

“Throughout his career, he helped shape our football team, played a key role in the development of Levi’s Stadium, and contributed to building our reputation across global sports,” 49ers controlling owner Jed York said in an email to staff. “His leadership and long-term commitment have shaped this organization in lasting ways.”

Brian Hampton has played a key role in the 49ers’ contract talks in recent years, having been promoted a year ago to assistant general manager. Also back in the 49ers’ front office this year is Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who worked as the Minnesota VIkings’ general manager the past four years and was pivotal in the 49ers’ research and development work from 2013-19.