49ers WR Ricky Pearsall returning to practice after shooting

Field Level Media|published: Sat 12th October, 12:02 2024

Oct 6, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall walks on the field before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall will return to practice next week for the first time since he was shot in the chest in a robbery attempt.

Coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed Friday that Pearsall would be activated from the non-football injury list and have his 21-day practice window opened ahead of San Francisco's Super Bowl rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 20 in Santa Clara, Calif.

Pearsall likely won't suit up in that contest, however.

"I would think it'd be a longer ramp-up period, but health-wise and everything, he is totally good to go," Shanahan said. "But I really won't decide that stuff until we start watching him practice. We're not going to rush it or anything. If he's ready, he's ready. And if he's not, we've got a few weeks."

Pearsall, 24, was shot during a robbery attempt in San Francisco on Aug. 31 and taken to San Francisco General Hospital.

Video shot in Union Square and posted to social media showed a shirtless Pearsall gingerly walking to an ambulance with assistance from police. As he sat on a gurney, he moved his left hand, which was pressing his shirt against the right side of his chest, near his shoulder, and blood was visible.

The 49ers selected Pearsall with the 31st pick in the April draft, and he signed a four-year, $12.5 million guaranteed contract with a $5.9 million signing bonus.

He was limited in training camp because of shoulder and hamstring issues, missing all three preseason games. He has a history of shoulder problems dating to his college days at Florida.

--Field Level Media