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Ricky Pearsall has returned to practice for the San Francisco 49ers less than 2 months after being shot in the chest.
The 49ers officially opened the 21-day practice window for the wide receiver. This means the team has 3 weeks to activate the WR from the non-football injury list. Pearsall was added to the list after being shot in an attempted robbery in San Francisco on Aug. 31.
Ricky Pearsall back participating in 49ers practice for the first time since being shot in the chest Aug. 31 pic.twitter.com/7vzVC8jKgL
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) October 14, 2024
To not only survive the incident but be back on the field in under 2 months is a miracle.
Pearsall was drafted by the 49ers with the 31st overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The WR spent 3 college seasons at Arizona State before transferring to Florida ahead of the 2022 season.
As a Gator, Pearsall caught 98 passes for 1,626 yards and 9 TDs. The WR had great chemistry with QB Graham Mertz in 2023 and had a 10-catch, 166-yard performance against South Carolina last season.
After becoming a reliable weapon out of the slot, Pearsall was thought to be a 1st- or 2nd-round talent in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Niners used their 1st-round pick on the WR, and now figure to make him a vital part of the offense when healthy.
The 49ers already have Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, and the injured Christian McCaffery on the roster. If Pearsall lives up to his draft stock, the Niners should be even harder to stop.
The 49ers next game will be in Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Bryce Lazenby covers college football for Saturday Down South. A Nashville native, his previous stops include FanSided, Dimers, and The Leaf-Chronicle.
