49ers News: WR Ricky Pearsall Shot in San Francisco; Suspect Taken into Custody

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was shot during a robbery incident in Union Square, according to reports.

Fortunately, he is currently in stable condition, and a suspect has been taken into custody.

Pearsall was drafted by the 49ers in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft after a standout season at the University of Florida, where he led the team with 965 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 2023.

Before that, he transferred from Arizona State, showcasing his talent over consecutive impressive seasons.

He faced some challenges during training camp, missing time due to a hamstring injury. Although he returned to practice, a lingering shoulder issue was expected to impact his rookie season. The team hoped he would be ready for the season opener.

Kyle Shanahan noted the progress he made and what type of role he could play in the offense this season.

“Just because the ball gets thrown to them doesn’t mean they did good or bad always,” Shanahan said .

“You get zoned 80% of the time out there. I didn’t realize he didn’t catch a pass, but when I get in there, I’m going watch him run at least 16 routes during plays. So, you expect everyone to catch it when it comes to you. So that really doesn’t affect me in terms of like what we see from a practice, but it’s been cool watching him in the run game.

“He definitely understands our standard. It’s not someone we have to call in and be like, we need more. He gets it. He’s doing everything he can and just continuing to get more reps.”

As training camp progressed, the 49ers addressed their wide receiver depth by signing Brandon Aiyuk to a significant contract extension.

This move solidifies the receiving corps, allowing Pearsall and Deebo Samuel to join Aiyuk as key targets for quarterback Brock Purdy as the season kicks off on September 8.