San Francisco 49ers rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall has been placed on the non-football injury list after being shot during an attempted robbery in central San Francisco. The incident occurred on Saturday when a juvenile suspect tried to rob Pearsall with a gun as he was walking alone carrying shopping bags to his car on Geary Boulevard in the Union Square area.
Pearsall sustained a gunshot wound to the chest and was hospitalized overnight at San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center. He was released on Sunday, but the team has not provided a timeline for his recovery. As a result of being placed on the non-football injury list, Pearsall will have to miss at least four games.
The 49ers can bring Pearsall back to the active roster after the initial four-game period by utilizing one of their eight designations to bring a player off an injured list during the regular season. Additionally, teams that make the postseason this season have been granted two additional return designations.
Pearsall, who was drafted in the first round by the 49ers in April, has faced injury setbacks since joining the team. He missed time during training camp due to hamstring and shoulder issues but had recently returned to practice wearing a noncontact blue jersey as his shoulder heals.
The team had initially kept an extra receiver on the 53-man roster due to star Brandon Aiyuk's absence from practice during a contract dispute, which was resolved last Thursday. With Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel as starters, the Niners have Jauan Jennings, Chris Conley, Ronnie Bell, and rookie Jacob Cowing as reserves.
To fill Pearsall's roster spot, the 49ers signed tackle Brandon Parker, who had been released the previous week. This move was necessary as All-Pro tackle Trent Williams is currently holding out for a new contract, requiring additional depth at the position behind Jaylon Moore and Colton McKivitz.
Additionally, the team signed defensive lineman Sam Okuayinonu to the practice squad after releasing him last week, while offensive lineman Sebastian Gutierrez was released from the practice squad.
