Ricky Pearsall's NFL debut looms as San Francisco 49ers make roster move

Just 44 days after getting shot on September 2 , San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall returned to practice. The 2024 first-round pick could play for the team as soon as this weekend after the 49ers opened his practice window on Monday.

The 49ers have three weeks to move Pearsall to their active roster or he will miss the entire NFL season. San Francisco will travel to face the Kansas City Chiefs in a Super Bowl 58 rematch on October 20.

The team's social media account captured Pearsall in his #14 jersey at Monday's practice conducting drills with the rest of the offense. Team captains George Kittle and Fred Warner let the rookie break down the team huddle at one point.

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Pearsall suffered gunshot wounds in his chest after an attempted robbery in downtown San Francisco. A teenager attempted to steal Pearsall's watch before the two engaged in a physical struggle.

The 49ers selected Pearsall with the 31st pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of the University of Florida. He caught 65 passes for 965 yards and four touchdowns for the Gators in 2023.

Originally slated as a mid-round pick, the 24-year-old shot up draft boards after running a 4.41 40-yard dash at the NFL combine in March.

Pearsall figures to serve as the team's fourth receiver behind the established trio of Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and Jauan Jennings.

In college, the former Florida receiver saw 62% of his action from the slot -- the same position Samuel, Jennings, and injured running back Christian McCaffrey excel in.

He was keen to play as soon as San Francisco's Week 1 matchup against the New York Jets on September 10, just eight days after the incident. However, head coach Kyle Shanahan quickly poured cold water on any immediate return.

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“I think [not rushing him back] is big,” Shanahan said in early September. “Especially, I think, each day, the mental part becomes more of a big deal."

"The adrenaline and just surviving that. Ricky saying stuff, at first, that doesn’t matter like, ‘I still think I could play versus the Jets.’ Those are the things he’s talking about, and it’s just like, ‘Dude, what are you talking about? There’s other things.’"

49ers general manager John Lynch expressed sympathy towards Pearsall's situation when asked about the young receiver last week: "Really proud of the young man and how he's handled everything. It's tough for Ricky not to be out there on that field," Lynch said.