San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was activated to the 53-man roster on Saturday and is expected to make his NFL debut in Sunday’s Week 8 game against Kansas City.
The rookie’s expected debut will come less than two months after he was shot in an attempted robbery. Pearsall was shot by a 17-year-old high school senior during a robbery attempt in San Francisco’s Union Square area on Aug. 31, according to the San Francisco Police Department. The bullet made a clean entry and exit through his back, missing vital organs and bones. Pearsall spent less than 24 hours in a hospital before he was released.
The 49ers placed their first-round pick (No. 31) in the 2024 NFL draft on injured reserve after the incident, but he told head coach Kyle Shanahan he planned to return to the field as soon as possible. He returned to practice on Monday.
“It’s been great to see him out there,” Shanahan told reporters on Friday. “I think the guys were 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 out there with us.”
How much Pearsall will play remains to be seen. He could see more snaps on the field with wide receiver Jauan Jennings ruled out for Sunday’s game with a hip injury. Pearsall also worked on punt returns during the week.
“He’s got roles on special teams, he’s got his role at receiver, and we’ll see how the game unfolds,” Shanahan told reporters. ” He’s healthy and ready to go.”
