SANTA CLARA – Ricky Pearsall danced to the music, sprinted through warmups, and officially resumed practicing Monday for the first time since being shot through his chest Aug. 31 in an attempted robbery in San Francisco.
The 49ers, five minutes before this brief practice, opened his three-week evaluation window to determine when and whether to activate him off the reserve/non-football injury list.
That off-roster designation is where he was stashed ahead of the Sept. 9 season opener, and after missing four games, he was eligible to return, but the 49ers were not compelled to rush his recovery from a death-defying gunshot wound through his upper-right chest outside a Union Square.
San Francisco 49ers’ Ricky Pearsall (14) high-fives teammates during warmups during practice at the Levi’s Stadium practice facility in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
As Pearsall joined teammates huddling around Fred Warner for a pre-practice message, at least one teammate could be heard shouting Pearsall’s name to welcome him back onto the practice field. He has been a regular fixture at practices the past six weeks, observing with a football in his hands or doing individual conditioning on the side with a trainer.
The 49ers (3-3) can activate Pearsall onto the 53-man roster and suit him up in his No. 14 jersey for Sunday’s visit to Levi’s Stadium by the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs (3-3).
Pearsall has not formally spoken to the media since being shot, and he is not expected to be made available after Monday’s practice when the locker room is open to reporters.
Pearsall, 24, was the 49ers’ first-round draft pick in April. He missed significant action in training camp due to injuries preceding the Aug. 31 shooting.
A hamstring issue, which occurred while training on his own this summer, kept him out the first four practices. He missed an ensuing three weeks after partially separating his left shoulder for the third time in the past few years, including once this past spring toward the end of the 49ers’ offseason program.
Pearsall appeared to have on a left-shoulder harness for support under his red, No. 14 jersey Monday, complemented by white gloves and white leggings underneath black shorts.
San Francisco 49ers’ Ricky Pearsall (14) high-fives Robert Beal Jr. (51) during warmups during practice at the Levi’s Stadium practice facility in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
The bullet that pierced Pearsall’s chest went through his back without striking any vital organs, and he was discharged from San Francisco General Hospital after an overnight stay.
The suspect, a 17-year-old from Tracy, was charged with attempted murder and two other felonies from the incident in which he was shot in his arm upon struggling with Pearsall.
The 49ers have preached patience for his comeback both from a physical and mental standpoint.
For comparison’s sake, Washington running back Brian Robinson was shot in the leg just days ahead of the 2022 opener as a rookie, and after missing four games, he was eased back into action with nine carries (22 yards) in 18 snaps in his Week 5 debut. He’s started 29 games since then for the Commanders.
San Francisco 49ers’ Ricky Pearsall (14) walks on the field during warmups during practice at the Levi’s Stadium practice facility in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Monday’s “bonus” practice was intended to wake up the 49ers’ bodies after a three-day break, having beaten the Seattle Seahawks 36-24 on Thursday night.
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Running back Jordan Mason suited up in a no-contact jersey Monday in the wake of his left-shoulder sprain in that win. Also participating Monday was cornerback Charvarius Ward, who was a pregame scratch because of a knee injury. Tight end George Kittle (ribs) and linebackers Fred Warner (ankle) and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf) also were participating.
Safety Malik Mustapha (ankle) and defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (knee) did conditioning on the side. Safety Talanoa Hufanga was spotted with a cast on his right wrist and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave had his right elbow in a brace; both are on Injured Reserve.