49ers Officially Re-Sign Deebo Samuel After Placing Ricky Pearsall on Season-Ending IR
The San Francisco 49ers made it official on Saturday. Deebo Samuel is a 49er again. The team announced it had signed the wide receiver to a one-year contract, closing the loop on a reunion that insiders had flagged just two days earlier.
The move came paired with tougher news. San Francisco placed wide receiver Ricky Pearsall on season-ending injured reserve as he continues to deal with complications from a PCL injury suffered last season, according to Niners Wire. Pearsall’s spot on the 53-man roster is now Samuel’s.
The 49ers broke the news themselves on X, posting photos of Samuel signing his contract inside the team facility with the caption “Slime in the building” alongside a snake emoji — a nod to Samuel’s longtime nickname. San Francisco 49ers posted on X: “Slime in the building” — https://x.com/49ers
A Homecoming One Year in the Making
Samuel spent seven seasons in the Bay Area after the 49ers drafted him in the second round in 2019. He requested a trade following the 2024 season, and San Francisco dealt him to the Washington Commanders for a fifth-round pick. That marked the end of a run that included two Super Bowl appearances and a 2021 season that earned him First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors.
Slime in the building 🐍 pic.twitter.com/GKUKfdaMop
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) August 1, 2026
The stint in Washington lasted one year. Samuel caught 72 passes for 727 yards and five touchdowns for the Commanders last season, appearing in all 16 games, per Niners Nation. His new deal with San Francisco is reportedly worth up to $7 million, with incentives built in tied to performance benchmarks, Niners Nation reported.
Word of the reunion first surfaced Thursday, two days before the club made it official. That gap between the initial report and Saturday’s announcement is standard for how NFL business tends to move — agreements get reported before ink hits paper.
Why the Timing Matters: Pearsall’s Injury
The corresponding move explains the urgency. Pearsall, who the 49ers had hoped would step into a bigger receiving role in 2026, is now expected to miss the entire season while he recovers from PCL complications. That’s a significant loss for a receiver room that was already thin behind veteran addition Mike Evans and rookie De’Zhaun Stribling.
Samuel now slots in as a likely third option in the passing game, at least early on. The 49ers appear to be betting that Stribling can develop quickly enough into a No. 2 role, which would let Samuel work in situational packages that play to his strengths — yards after catch, motion concepts, and the occasional carry out of the backfield.
| Category | 2025 Season (Washington) | Career Totals |
|---|---|---|
| Receptions | 72 | 406 |
| Receiving Yards | 727 | 5,519 |
| Receiving TDs | 5 | 27 |
| Rushing Yards | 75 | 1,218 |
| Rushing TDs | 1 | 21 |
Back in the Old Number
There’s a small but telling detail buried in the roster paperwork. Wide receiver Jacob Cowing has already switched from No. 19 to No. 6, clearing the way for Samuel to return to the jersey number he wore throughout his first stint in San Francisco, Niners Wire noted. It’s the kind of quiet gesture that tells you the front office expects him to stick around, at least through this season.
Samuel is expected to be on the field Saturday for the team’s second padded practice of training camp, giving Kyle Shanahan an early look at how he fits back into the offense.
What Comes Next
Nothing about Samuel’s exact role has been settled. He signed an incentive-laden deal, which means his workload and his final payday will likely track together. If Stribling proves he’s ready to handle a No. 2 job now, Samuel becomes a flexible complementary piece. If the rookie needs more time, San Francisco could lean on Samuel more than initially planned.
Either way, the 49ers have added a familiar, versatile weapon at a position that just took a real hit with Pearsall’s injury. Training camp reps over the next few weeks will start to answer how Shanahan plans to use him.