SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Ricky Pearsall’s return to the San Francisco 49ers’ practice field was understandably emotional, given the scary circumstances that delayed the rookie receiver’s NFL debut. Yet Pearsall, a first-round draft pick who was shot through the chest during a daytime robbery attempt in San Francisco’s Union Square on Aug. 31, also provided some levity during Monday’s light workout by exhibiting a very relatable frailty.
He was too gassed to string together a sentence. Hilarity ensued.
Nearly two months removed from his last practice, Pearsall held back nothing during a two-minute drill at the end of the 40-minute session, conspicuously going harder than the rest of his teammates and predictably struggling to catch his breath in the immediate aftermath.
“Everyone’s jogging through,” quarterback Brock Purdy recalled Wednesday, “but homey’s out there running full speed. It was cool, though.”
How could it not be? Pro football players tend to skew macho — and jaded — but Pearsall’s presence provokes constant smiles because of the connotation it carries.
A mere six-and-a-half weeks ago, after news reports surfaced that Pearsall had been shot, there was no guarantee his 49ers teammates would ever see him again. For about an hour, they feared the worst. Amazingly, the bullet passed completely through his body without doing significant damage. Two days later he was back at the team’s training facility, making a point of showing up to watch practice as a means of conveying to his teammates that he was still part of their quest to capture a championship.
Every hour they’ve spent with him since then has been a bonus. Pearsall, who turned 24 last month, hasn’t quite been skipping around like Jimmy Stewart in “It’s A Wonderful Life,” but he has demonstrated an infectious lightness of being. Call it perspective — a stark reminder that football isn’t as important as, well, life — or simply the joy of spending time with a larger group that appreciates his struggle.
Some rookies worry about fitting in, adjusting to life after college or mastering the playbook. Pearsall feels free.
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His popularity is also buoyed by an ample amount of swag — fellow rookie receiver Jacob Cowing told reporters on Monday that Pearsall is “the coldest White boy I’ve ever seen” — provoking nicknames like “YAC Harlow” after the team took him with the 31st selection in last April’s draft.
“He kinda makes everyone happy,” star tight end George Kittle said. “We’re all huge fans. The team loves him.”
They loved having Pearsall back on the field Monday, even when he nearly keeled over from exhaustion. The comedy occurred at the end of practice when 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan asked Pearsall to “break down” the team, an endeavor that was complicated by the player having a hard time getting words out.
“That was actually hilarious,” tight end George Kittle said. “He was struggling. You forget how fast you get out of shape when you’re not actually playing football.”
Ricky’s got moves … pic.twitter.com/zB537V8oT4
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) October 16, 2024
Pearsall, too, found humor in the moment. On Wednesday, during an informal conversation with a group of media members in the locker room, he smiled broadly while recalling his pants-on-fire approach to Monday’s practice and acknowledged it was a very special experience. He is not expected to comment publicly until after he makes his NFL regular-season debut.
Still technically on the reserve/non-football injury list, Pearsall won’t play in Sunday’s Super Bowl LVIII rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs at Levi’s Stadium, but he’ll likely return soon. The 49ers, who opened Pearsall’s 21-day practice window on Monday, have until Nov. 4 to decide whether to activate him or shelve him for the season.
Pearsall, who couldn’t fully lift his right arm above his head until last week, indicated that he’s ready to roll — physically, mentally and emotionally. He has also recovered from the left shoulder subluxation he suffered during the offseason and aggravated early in training camp.
Because of those injuries, Pearsall didn’t get a ton of run over the summer. However, when he was healthy enough to practice, he definitely flashed, exhibiting suddenness, precise route-running and flat-out speed. He should add additional punch to an offense that features a talented group of targets for Purdy, including Kittle and wideouts Brandon Aiyuk (a 2023 second-team All-Pro who was once Pearsall’s teammate at Arizona State), Deebo Samuel Sr. and Jauan Jennings. Pearsall also spent time on Monday and Wednesday fielding punts; he’d likely be an upgrade were the special-teams-challenged 49ers to use him as a returner.
“That’s my dog,” Aiyuk said of Pearsall, who later transferred to Florida. “He’s a real dude.”
Said Kittle: “He’s a monster. He’s built different, man.”
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Those comments, of course, aren’t merely referring to Pearsall as a football player. He’ll always be more than that to the 49ers, who saw him rebound from a traumatic incident — a robbery attempt and subsequent scuffle that felt dehumanizing — by showing up for work and putting one foot in front of the other.
When he finally got to step back onto the practice field Monday, Pearsall didn’t pace himself. He went for it, and when the two-minute drill ended, he was spent.
“He was absolutely gassed,” fullback Kyle Juszczyk said. “It was cool when he spoke, though. He told us it was an honor to be out here with everybody, and that he didn’t take it for granted.”
Said Purdy: “Sometimes when guys speak, people don’t really listen. Like, practice just ended and we just want to get out of there. But with him, everybody was paying close attention. And he brought it. It was kind of emotional.”
“They know he’s wanted to be a part of this.”
Kyle Shanahan on Ricky Pearsall’s return to practice. pic.twitter.com/p7qDVVdtZ7
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 16, 2024
Afterward, Pearsall called his father, Ricky Sr., and told him it was the best day of his life.
Then again, right now, they’re all pretty great.
(Top photo: Lachlan Cunningham / Getty Images)
