San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall will miss at least the first four games of the NFL season after being placed on the reserve/non-football injury list. Pearsall was shot during an attempted robbery in San Francisco over the weekend, and the team made the decision on Monday, just 48 hours after the incident.
Pearsall, who was selected 31st overall in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft, sustained multiple injuries when he was shot in the chest by a 17-year-old assailant who tried to steal his Rolex watch. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon around 3:37 p.m. in the Union Square area of San Francisco, near Geary Street and close to Grant Street.
The altercation led to a struggle over the firearm, which discharged several times, striking both Pearsall and the teenager. A nearby police officer quickly responded to the scene and provided immediate assistance, including praying with Pearsall before both victims were rushed to San Francisco General Hospital.
Pearsall was treated for his injuries and was released from the hospital on Sunday. His mother, Erin, shared an update on Facebook earlier that day, expressing gratitude for her son’s survival. “First and foremost, I want to thank God for protecting my baby boy,” she wrote. “He is extremely lucky; God shielded him. He was shot in the chest, and it exited out his back. Thanks be to God it missed his vital organs.”
The 23-year-old wide receiver, who played college football at Arizona State before transferring to Florida, had a standout final season with the Gators, recording 965 receiving yards and four touchdowns across 12 games. Pearsall was expected to contribute to an already talented 49ers wide receiver corps, which includes stars Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. However, his availability will now be delayed as he recovers from this traumatic incident.
Pearsall has already faced challenges during the 49ers’ training camp, dealing with hamstring and shoulder injuries. The shooting adds another layer of adversity for the young player as he begins his NFL career.
The 49ers have announced that Pearsall will miss games against the New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Rams, and New England Patriots. He will be eligible to return in Week 5 for the team’s matchup against the Arizona Cardinals on October 6.
In a statement released on Sunday, the 49ers expressed their gratitude to those who assisted Pearsall in the aftermath of the shooting. “He and his family, along with the entire San Francisco 49ers organization, would like to thank the San Francisco Police Department, emergency medical services, doctors, and staff at San Francisco General Hospital,” the statement read.
As Pearsall begins his recovery, the entire NFL community is hopeful for his swift return to the field.
