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SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall of the San Francisco 49ers is set to make his NFL debut this Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, a little over seven weeks after he sustained a gunshot wound to the chest.
Pearsall has completed a week of practice without any setbacks, thus he will be removed from the non-football injury list, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Shanahan acknowledged he wasn’t certain how quickly Pearsall would adjust to game speed, but was encouraged by his performance during week’s practice leading up to the matchup against the reigning champions.
“There were no specific expectations,” Shanahan noted. “I just wanted to see him out there. It had been a while since he practiced with the team. I didn’t count Monday since it was just a walkthrough. However, he looked impressive on Wednesday, even sharper on Thursday, and felt comfortable by today. It made our decision much easier.”
The incident leading to Pearsall’s absence occurred during a robbery attempt in San Francisco’s Union Square, which resulted in his hospitalization. Fortunately, he avoided any severe damage to organs or nerves and was back training at the team’s facility the following week.
Pearsall returned to practice on Monday and is expected to play an important role in the game against Kansas City, especially with fellow receiver Jauan Jennings dealing with a hip injury and unable to play.
“He’ll take on whatever role is needed on Sunday,” said Shanahan. “He has responsibilities in special teams and as a receiver, and we’ll see how everything unfolds during the game. The key point is that he’s fit and ready to participate.”
Drafted in the first round this past April, Pearsall missed a significant portion of training camp due to hamstring and shoulder injuries but seemed poised to play in the season opener before the shooting incident.
Shanahan remarked that Pearsall’s return to practice invigorated the team.
“The guys are really excited,” he said. “He’s been with the team for a while now, so it’s not like he’s been absent. Practicing all week has been fantastic, and the team is genuinely thrilled for him to be back. He’s had a remarkable week, and we are all eager to have him join us on the field.”
In additional injury updates, running back Jordan Mason (shoulder) and receiver Deebo Samuel (wrist) have made it through the week without any complications and are ready to compete on Sunday.
The 49ers are also experiencing a change at kicker, as Matthew Wright, who stepped in to replace the injured Jake Moody, is headed to injured reserve following a shoulder and back injury sustained during kick coverage last week against Seattle. Moody suffered an ankle sprain in a previous game and is expected to be sidelined for two more weeks.
Anders Carlson was signed to the practice squad this week and will be elevated to kick for the game. Last season, as a rookie with the Green Bay Packers, Carlson made 27 of 33 field goal attempts and 34 of 39 extra point attempts.
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