49ers Rookie Returns to Field Nine Days After Shooting Incident

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San Francisco 49ers rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall returned to practice on Monday for the first time since being shot in the chest during an attempted robbery just nine days before the season opener.

Despite being on the non-football injury list, the team has now opened a window for Pearsall to begin practicing. They have a three-week period to determine when to activate the promising rookie. However, head coach Kyle Shanahan emphasized that there is no definitive timeline for Pearsall’s return to game action.


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His rookie teammate, guard Dominick Puni, expressed his excitement saying, “I saw him warming up and I started smiling because I know how big of a factor he can be for the team. But more importantly for his health and everything, it was awesome to see him out there after going what he went through.”

Pearsall’s presence on the field brought a much-needed lift for the 49ers, who had been shaken by the incident on August 31 in San Francisco’s Union Square. Pearsall was shot in an attempted robbery and spent the night in the hospital. He avoided any damage to vital organs and nerves, and remarkably, he was back working out at the team facility within a week.

During the portion of practice open to the media, Pearsall was seen dancing around the field and actively participating, even leading the team huddle before and after the session.

Fellow rookie receiver Jacob Cowing noted Pearsall’s impressive resilience, “All the adversity that has kind of been thrown at him in the past few months, just for him to overcome everything against him, to fight and to grind and to get back into shape. It’s a great feeling for everyone to see him put the helmet back on, put the jersey back on, and then to go out there and be part of that team and go out there and have some fun.”

Pearsall, a first-round draft pick in April, had already missed most of training camp due to hamstring and shoulder injuries but was on track for the season opener before the shooting incident.

In college, Pearsall began his career at Arizona State before transferring to Florida for his final two seasons. At Florida, he recorded 65 catches for 965 yards and four touchdowns last season. He ended his college tenure with 159 catches for 2,420 yards and 14 touchdowns.

In other news, running back Jordan Mason donned a blue non-contact jersey after spraining the AC joint in his left shoulder in a game against Seattle last Thursday. The 49ers are hopeful he can play this week when San Francisco hosts Kansas City in a Super Bowl rematch. Safety Malik Mustapha (ankle) and defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (knee) were working on the side. Cornerback Charvarius Ward (knee), linebacker Fred Warner (ankle), tight end George Kittle (ribs), and linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf) were all in uniform to start practice.