Ricky Pearsall injury update: NFL insider drops major update on 49ers WR's return after gunshot wound

San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall will return to practice next week, according to NFL insider Albert Breer. Pearsall was placed on IR after suffering a gunshot wound in August.

That doesn’t mean the former Florida standout is on track to make his NFL regular-season debut in the Super Bowl rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs, however. His status for that game will remain to be seen as he makes his way back onto the field for the first time in over a month.

Pearsall was shot in the chest on Aug. 31 by a teenager who was allegedly attempting to steal his watch. He was reportedly en route to an autograph signing and was shot during a struggle for the gun. The suspect was also shot in that struggle. He was treated at San Francisco General Hospital and released the following day.

When a player returns from the IR, they can come back on a 21-day practice window. That allows them to practice without impacting the 53-man roster and once that window closes and those three weeks are up, the team can either activate the player fully or put them on season-ending IR.

Last week was the last time San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke on his rookie, giving the latest on the status of the former Gators wideout.

“I know he is really close,” Kyle Shanahan told reporters. “When he’s good to go, we’ll be pumped to have him back. Ricky is a hell of a player.”

With Pearsall’s debut set to happen within the next few weeks, he’ll look to add to an offense that has been marred with injuries throughout the 2024 regular season. In particular, running back Christian McCaffrey has yet to see the field and wide receiver Deebo Samuel has missed time. So, getting back a high-upside player like Pearsall is going to help the 49ers move forward this season.