The snakebitten San Francisco 49ers could see their first-round pick return to practice this week.
Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is eligible to come off of injured reserve, and there’s a chance that he could be back on the practice field for the 49ers. “All signs have been pointing” to San Francisco opening Pearsall’s practice window, according to ESPN reporter Nick Wagoner. However, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said the decision hasn’t been made yet, though it could be later in the week.
Wagoner says Pearsall has “been working out and going to meetings at the team facility,” and has been a constant presence since he was released from the hospital in early September.
Pearsall was the victim of an attempted robbery in late August, during which he suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. The 23-year-old was fortunate that the bullet did not damage any vital organs, and was hospitalized for less than a week.
He was placed on the National Football League’s non-football-injury list, sidelining him until Week 5. General manager John Lynch has consistently stated that Pearsall would play for the 49ers during the 2024 season.
“Ricky's doing really well,” Lynch said late last week. “He's put in the work. He's very eager to get back out there, but it's our job to make sure he's ready when he gets back…We're really excited about possibly getting him back sometime in the near future, and he's trending in a really good direction."
Returning Pearsall from the NFI list to the active roster will count as one of the 49ers’ allotted eight activations for the 2024 campaign.
Persall is expected to compete with Chris Conley, Ronnie Bell, and Jake Cowing for reps as San Francisco’s fourth receiver, though he could be in line for a starting position next season if the 49ers trade All-Pro Deebo Samuel.
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