49ers' Ricky Pearsall is nearing his return after being shot during a robbery

Shortly before the start of the NFL season, San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was the victim of a shooting during an altercation following an attempted robbery. Luckily, he wasn't injured too badly and is expected to return to the field at some point this season.

But ahead of Week 5 for San Francisco, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters that Pearsall's practice window would not be open yet.

“I just don’t feel like he’s ready to practice this week,” Shanahan told reporters.

Nevertheless, Shanahan also mentioned that the rookie is close to his return. The team will likely want to be cautious in their approach to ensure Pearsall is fully ready to return to the field.

“I know he’s really close,” 49ers HC forward Kyle Shanahan told reporters. “When he’s ready to go, we’ll be thrilled to have him back. Ricky is a great player.”

Pearsall remains on the reserve/non-football injury list while he fully recovers. But Shanahan's notes likely indicate he'll be taking action much sooner than expected.

While the 49ers prioritize his health above all else, getting him back to practice would be a huge boost for this team. Pearsall was expected to play a key role in their offensive attack this season after the team selected him in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of the University of Florida.

Whenever he returns, his teammates will be there to show him their support. They are all looking forward to him making an impact on this team.

“It’s going to be huge,” defensive end Nick Bosa said of the prospect of seeing Pearsall, the team’s top draft pick, back in uniform. “I see him in the facility right now – he makes a good impression at training and stuff. He's a really positive guy. “Obviously it was a very scary incident and I’m glad he’s OK.”

During his time with the Gators last season, Pearsall caught 65 passes for 965 yards and four touchdowns. He spent three seasons with the Arizona State Sun Devils before coming to Florida.

The 49ers are excited about Pearsall's potential and what he can bring to their offense. San Francisco has dealt with all sorts of injuries to star players on offense, so bringing the rookie back would be huge.

His health remains a priority, but it looks like Pearsall will make his NFL debut sooner rather than later.

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