SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers quickly had to readjust their strategy regarding rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall as he recuperates from a gunshot wound to the chest. Originally expected to be integrated back into the lineup gradually, Pearsall’s role has taken a significant turn following the season-ending injury to teammate Brandon Aiyuk, who suffered ligament tears in his right knee during last Sunday’s game.
“There are definitely a lot of opportunities for us,” Pearsall commented about the increased responsibilities alongside fellow rookie Jacob Cowing. He expressed concern for Aiyuk, stating, “It sucks seeing a guy like B.A. go down. He’s one of our leaders, a big playmaker, and one of my close friends. It hurt to see him go down. Now, it’s on a lot of us rookies, including myself, to step up.”
The 49ers are facing a shortage of offensive playmakers, with Aiyuk sidelined for the season and All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey dealing with Achilles tendinitis that has kept him out since August. Compounding their challenges, the team is also uncertain about the status of two additional receivers, as Deebo Samuel was absent from practice on Wednesday after being discharged from the hospital where he was treated for pneumonia. Meanwhile, Jauan Jennings is nursing a hip injury that may cause him to miss another game.
In his initial game, Pearsall recorded three receptions for a total of 21 yards while participating in 48 offensive snaps during a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. His performance wasn’t without its missteps, including a miscommunication on a route that led to an incompletion on his first target. “It was just a communication error,” Pearsall noted, referencing how limited practice time affected their timing. “I was a few yards too deep. I can fix that, and if I do, the ball would’ve been right on my chest.”
Having primarily trained as an “X” receiver, which lines up on the line of scrimmage, Pearsall received opportunities in the slot and off the line due to the team’s injuries. Head Coach Kyle Shanahan expressed satisfaction with Pearsall’s performance in his new role and anticipates further growth as the team prepares for their upcoming match against Dallas. “I think he can run every route as a receiver,” Shanahan highlighted. “Ricky is capable of executing all routes; he’s not limited to just a select few.”
This versatility was a significant factor in the 49ers selecting Pearsall with the 31st overall pick in the first round of the draft in April. Although he missed much of training camp due to hamstring and shoulder injuries, he was set to be ready for the season opener when a robbery attempt led to him being shot in San Francisco’s Union Square area on August 31. Thankfully, he underwent only an overnight hospitalization, avoiding serious injury, and was back working out at the team facility the week after. After returning to practice last week, Pearsall is eager to build upon his debut performance.
“I see a lot of room for improvement,” he stated. “Being out of training camp and with this time in the season, there’s a lot of potential for me to enhance my game. I just need to go back and put in the work and do what I usually do—grind hard.”
In other team updates, the Niners elevated defensive tackle Evan Anderson from the practice squad to fill the vacancy left by Aiyuk’s injury. Tight end George Kittle (foot), defensive lineman Kevin Givens (groin), safety George Odum (knee), and left tackle Trent Williams (veteran rest day) were all absent from practice. Defensive lineman Nick Bosa (elbow), running back Jordan Mason (shoulder), and receiver Chris Conley (ankle) participated in limited capacity. Additionally, the team signed wide receiver Malik Turner and offensive lineman Dieter Eiselen to their practice squad.
