The San Francisco 49ers rookie is expected to make his season debut after taking a shot

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was added to the 53-man roster on Saturday and is expected to make his NFL debut in Sunday's Week 8 game against Kansas City.

The rookie's expected debut will come less than two months after he was shot during an attempted robbery. According to the San Francisco Police Department, Pearsall was shot by a 17-year-old high school senior during a robbery in the Union Square area of ​​San Francisco on August 31. The bullet passed cleanly through his back, missing vital organs and bones. Pearsall spent less than 24 hours in a hospital before being released.

The 49ers placed their first-round pick (No. 31) in the 2024 NFL Draft on injured reserve following the incident, but he told head coach Kyle Shanahan that he planned to return to the field as soon as possible. He returned to training on Monday.

“It was great to see him out there,” Shanahan told reporters Friday. “I think the guys were really happy for him, that he could come back and be a part of it. He’s had a heck of a week and we’re really excited to get him out there.”

How much Pearsall will play remains to be seen. He could see more snaps on the field with wide receiver Jauan Jennings out for Sunday's game with a hip injury. Pearsall also worked on punt returns throughout the week.

“He has roles on special teams, he has his role as a receiver and we’ll see how the game plays out,” Shanahan told reporters. “He’s healthy and ready to go.”