THE San Francisco 49ers have placed rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall on the reserve/non-football injury list.
The former Arizona State and Florida standout was shot in an attempted robbery on Saturday.
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Pearsall’s status means he is ineligible to play in the first four games of the 2024 NFL season.
The robbery took place in Union Square in downtown San Francisco, California, after he was signing autographs for fans at an event in the city.
The suspect, a 17-year-old boy from Tracey, California, is said to have tried to steal the 49ers wide receiver’s Rolex watch, per cops.
Pearsall, 23, was shot in the chest after a physical altercation with the suspect, cops said.
Both were injured during the incident and then taken to San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.
“A struggle between Mr. Pearsall and the suspect ensued and gunfire from the suspect’s gun struck both Mr. Pearsall and the subject,” San Francisco Police Chief William Scott said.
Pearsall was initially in a “serious but stable condition.”
His status was updated to a “fair condition” on Sunday before his release later that day, ESPN reported.
The NFL rookie was “extremely lucky” to have avoided a serious injury with the bullet “missing his vital organs,” his mother, Erin, revealed in a Facebook post on Sunday.
“First and far most I want to thank GOD for protecting my baby boy,” Erin wrote, via The Daily Mail.
“He is extremely lucky, GOD shielded him.
“He was shot in the chest and it exited out his back. Thanks be to GOD it missed his vital organs.
“He is in good spirits right now. Life is so precious my friends.
“Please love each other. My son was spared today by the grace of GOD.
NFL important dates
August 1 – Hall of Fame Game – Houston Texans vs Chicago Bears
August 8 – Pre-season begins
August 27 – Deadline for 53-man rosters
September 1 – Final day of pre-season
September 5 – Season opener – Baltimore Ravens vs Kansas City Chiefs
November 5 – Trade deadline
January 5 – Week 18 of regular-season
January 11 – Playoffs begin
February 9 – Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana
“Please pray for my baby.”
The 49ers signed offensive lineman Brandon Parker to a one-year deal to fill in the empty roster spot, which was opened up by Pearsall’s placement on the reserve/non-football injury list.
San Francisco drafted the wideout at No. 31 overall in this year’s NFL Draft.
He logged 965 receiving yards and four touchdowns while adding two scores in the run game for Florida in 2023.
Pearsall signed a four-year rookie deal with the 49ers after his selection in the draft.
San Francisco begins the 2024 NFL season with a Monday Night Football clash against the New York Jets on September 9.
