The San Francisco 49ers are counting on third-year wide receiver Ricky Pearsall to start opposite veteran Mike Evans this season. However, those plans could be in jeopardy as Pearsall continues dealing with the lingering effects of last year's PCL injury.

One former NFL wide receiver believes it may be time for the 49ers to look elsewhere. T.J. Houshmandzadeh recently suggested the team reunite with veteran wideout Deebo Samuel.


"Tyshun should be on his way," Houshmandzadeh said on the Speakeasy podcast, referring to Samuel by his given first name.

As for Pearsall, Houshmandzadeh doesn't sound optimistic about the young receiver, a former first-round pick who has missed 14 games over his first two NFL seasons.

"You can't count on him," Houshmandzadeh said. "I can count on, and I know I can rely on, Deebo Samuel. I know I can. And then this comes out: when you're a receiver, and you start having these lower-body injuries this early in training camp, first, second day, we're going to have to monitor this the rest of the season. Now we're getting it drained, now we're doing this, now we got to give you days [off].

"You're young! You shouldn't be taking days off. But now we got to monitor this and give you days off. 'Oh, we really need to see you every day because you need to show us that you can do this, that we can trust what you can bring to the table, to the team. Oh, you're not even available.'"


While Samuel wouldn't represent a long-term solution at wide receiver, the 49ers still believe they're in a championship window. If Pearsall is expected to miss significant time, adding an experienced, proven playmaker could be considered.


"So now, let me go get somebody that I know can get it done," Houshmandzadeh added. "So Deebo, man, get ready to go back to the Bay. At least, that's what should happen, because I was saying this: they need him. They need somebody that's proven."

Whether the 49ers have any interest in a reunion after a one-year split remains unclear. However, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reported last week that Samuel may have been interested in returning to Santa Clara earlier this offseason.

"I do think Deebo had an interest in returning to the 49ers and was maybe even a little miffed that the 49ers so quickly signed Mike Evans as a free agent," Maiocco said.

Whether a Samuel-49ers reunion ultimately materializes remains to be seen. For now, Pearsall's absence from practice is creating opportunities for younger receivers such as Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing to make their case for larger roles in the 49ers' offense.

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