SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall made his NFL debut Sunday, exactly 50 days after he was shot in the chest during a robbery.

Pearsall was activated from the non-football injured list on Saturday and was on the field as the 49ers hosted the Kansas City Chiefs in a Super Bowl rematch. He made his first play on San Francisco’s first drive and caught his first career pass late in the second quarter.

Pearsall’s return proved particularly important as No. 3 receiver Jauan Jennings was sidelined with a hip injury and the Niners also had to deal with the departures of their two starting receivers.

Deebo Samuel was reported ill shortly before the game. He tried to play but went back to the locker room after just four snaps in the first half. Brandon Aiyuk was sent off after being hit in the right knee late in the second quarter.

Pearsall returned to training last Monday for the first time since taking over shot in the chest on August 31 in the Union Square area of ​​San Francisco. However, he was hospitalized overnight Damage avoided all organs and nerves and trained again in the team facility the following week.

Pearsall, drafted in the first round in April, missed most of training camp due to hamstring and shoulder injuries but was on track to be ready for the opener before he was shot.

He began his college career at Arizona State and transferred to Florida for his final two seasons. He had 65 catches for 965 yards and four touchdowns last season for the Gators and finished his college career with 159 catches for 2,420 yards and 14 touchdowns.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL