San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall has been placed on the non-football injury list after sustaining a gunshot wound during an attempted robbery in central San Francisco. Pearsall was hospitalized overnight and subsequently released from the San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center on Sunday following the incident that occurred on Saturday afternoon.
The team made the move to free up a spot on the 53-man roster while Pearsall recuperates from the gunshot wound to his chest. The duration of his absence has not been specified, but he is required to miss a minimum of four games while on the non-football injury list. The 17-year-old suspect who attempted to rob Pearsall with a gun was swiftly apprehended by the police in the Union Square area.
Pearsall, a first-round pick for the 49ers in April, has faced challenges with injuries since joining the team, including hamstring and shoulder issues during training camp. He recently returned to practice wearing a non-contact jersey as he continues to recover from his shoulder injury. His collegiate career spanned from Arizona State to Florida and boasted impressive stats before his NFL debut.
Brandon Parker, a tackle who was previously released, has been signed by the 49ers to fill Pearsall’s roster spot. With star receiver Brandon Aiyuk back in action after a contract dispute and Deebo Samuel as a starter, the 49ers look ahead to the season opener with depth in their receiving corps.
Additionally, defensive lineman Sam Okuayinonu has been added to the practice squad after being released last week, while offensive lineman Sebastian Gutierrez was waived from the practice squad. This roster adjustment came in conjunction with the 49ers reorganizing their lineup in preparation for the upcoming NFL season.