Over the past two weeks, FOX and NBC’s national broadcasts have focused heavily on the return of San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall from his shooting injury this offseason. On Sunday evening, they even broadcast footage of Pearsall being loaded into the ambulance while first responders applied pressure to the wound.

Ricky Pearsall was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers

During the 2024 NFL Draft, Pearsall was selected 31st overall by the San Francisco 49ers. Pearsall was part of a group of 10 receivers selected in the first 37 selections and the first of four consecutive wideouts selected from picks 31 through 34. He spent time as a college receiver with the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Florida Gators. The rookies’ expectations were tempered by a crowded offense with playmakers in crucial spots.

Where was Ricky Pearsall shot? Why was Pearsall shot?

On August 31, Pearsall was in San Francisco buying luggage for road trips and was on his way to an autograph signing. He was robbed at gunpoint for his Rolex watch and shot in the chest in an argument over the gun. The incident occurred in the middle of the day near Union Square, a popular commercial area in the city. The suspect was immediately arrested while Pearsall was loaded into an ambulance.

Ricky Pearsell was released from the hospital after the shooting

Pearsall spent a night in hospital but was discharged the following day, September 1. For a man shot through the chest, the reaction time is remarkably quick. The next day he was back at the team facility for rehab, but not on the field. At the time, general manager John Lynch said Pearsall would definitely be back for the 2024 season.

Ricky Pearsall starts the season on the reserve/non-football injury list

NFL teams have two lists for players who are too injured to be on the field. Injured reserve is for players who are injured on the field or in team facilities. The non-football injury list applies to players injured outside of team facilities. The 49ers used that designation on Pearsall on September 2, forcing him to miss at least the team’s first four games of the season and freeing up a roster spot for a replacement player. According to head coach Kyle Shanahan, it had as much to do with the mental hurdles as the physical ones.

When did Ricky Pearsall return to the 49ers lineup?

The 49ers opened Pearsall’s window to return in early October. He was close to returning the week of October 2, but San Francisco kept him inactive for another week.

How has Ricky Pearsall impacted the 49ers’ offense since returning from his firing?

Quarterback Brock Purdy saw a role for Pearsall when he returned to the lineup, even as Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk led the receiver room and Jauan Jennings had a breakout early in the season. With Jennings injured early in Week 7, Pearsall’s role was expected to increase anyway. Then Samuel played only a few snaps after coming down with pneumonia, and Aiyuk left the game with a season-ending injury. Suddenly Pearsall was the top wideout, seeing more snaps than anyone else at the position, and in Week 8 against the Dallas Cowboys, he saw a bigger role.

Ricky Pearsall stats

Pearsall played 76% of the team’s snaps in his season debut in Week 7 thanks to injuries at wide receiver. They certainly wanted to make things easier for him more than that, and by Week 8 he was back up to a 59% snap percentage.

He caught seven passes on nine targets for 59 yards in those two games, an average of 8.43 yards per catch. In his second NFL game, he also managed an end-around for 39 yards on the ground.

What happened to Ricky Pearsall’s shooter?

Pearsall was shot during a fight with a 17-year-old high school senior. Because no charges have been decided against him as a minor or as an adult, details about his status have remained quiet. The attacker was also shot in the arm during the struggle for the gun. He was charged with attempted murder, assault with a semi-automatic weapon and attempted second-degree robbery, as well as several firearms charges.

Who saved Ricky Pearsall’s life?

First responders on the scene recently spoke out about the incident and shared their side of things with ESPN this weekend. SFPD Sgt. Joelle Harrell was first on scene and treated the wound immediately.

“When he got up, I saw the wound on his chest.” she said in a recent television interview. “And I thought, ‘Oh no.’ So I took my strong hand and placed it over the hole to create suction. And then I took my other hand to apply direct pressure to his head. He asks, ‘Am I going to die from this?’ I said, ‘Look at me.’ I know you don’t know me, but you have to trust me, it’s not your time.”

Before the 49ers’ season opener against the New York Jets, Harrell was seen by emergency physician Dr. Accompanied by Judy Kornblith at a ceremony on the field. Kornblith was operating on Pearsall when he was taken to the hospital.

What is Ricky Pearsall’s prognosis?

Everything indicates that Pearsall will not have any long-term problems due to the injury. Pearsall’s mother said the bullet hit all of his vital organs.