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San Francisco 49ers rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall, who survived a gunshot wound during an attempted robbery, is poised to make his NFL debut against Kansas City on Sunday. After fully recovering, Pearsall has impressed Coach Kyle Shanahan during practice, particularly with injuries affecting other players on the team. He is expected to play both as a receiver and on special teams.
What happened to Pearsall?
Pearsall was shot on August 31 while on his way to a signing event when an assailant attempted to steal his watch. Following a struggle, both Pearsall and the suspect were injured by gunfire. Pearsall was seen walking to the ambulance and was reported to be in stable condition.
Now, just 50 days post-incident, Pearsall is ready to take the field for the 49ers against Kansas City.
Coach Shanahan expressed satisfaction with Pearsall's practice performance: “There was no expectation in that way. I just wanted to see him. We hadn’t seen him out there in a while. Monday I didn’t even really count because it was a walkthrough. But Wednesday he looked great. And Thursday was even better. And today was even more comfortable. So that made the decision pretty easy.”
After being hospitalized overnight following the robbery attempt, Pearsall returned to practice and is set to fill a crucial role, especially with No. 3 receiver Jauan Jennings out due to a hip injury.
“Whatever he’s needed at. He’s got roles on special teams, he’s got roles as receiver and we’ll see how the game unfolds. But he’s healthy and ready to go," Shahanan added.
Drafted in April, Pearsall missed a significant portion of training camp due to hamstring and shoulder injuries. However, Shanahan had noted that he was expected to be ready for the season opener before the shooting incident.
“The guys are pumped. He’s been around the guys for a while now, so it’s not like he hasn’t been around but practicing all week. It’s been great to see him out there. I think the guys are more real happy for him that he could get back and be a part of it. He’s had a hell of a week and we’re just pumped to get him back out there with us," the coach concluded.
