With Ricky Pearsall's 2026 uncertain, the 49ers needed to prepare for the worst, and Deebo Samuel being signed Thursday was that preparation. According to Adam Schefter, it wasn't so much of a knee-jerk reaction to Pearsall's PCL injury as it may appear. "The truth of the matter is Deebo had been talking to the 49ers all along, and the 49ers had told him that they were interested in bringing him back to San Francisco for weeks. There were actual conversations that occurred between Kyle Shanahan and Deebo Samuel. And so in the end, we've seen what San Francisco can do with Deebo, how the 49ers utilize him.