‘It meant everything’: Ricky Pearsall makes NFL debut exactly 50 days after being shot

SANTA CLARA — Ricky Pearsall’s first thought after being shot in the chest on Aug. 31 was obvious.

Would I live? 

Once doctors determined that, yes, Pearsall would survive, he shifted his attention to the next logical line of questioning.

Would I be able to play football again?

“That was a common question coming out of my mouth when I was in the hospital bed,” Pearsall said with a sly smile postgame.

On an otherwise unsettling Sunday for the red and gold — a day in which the 49ers lost their Super Bowl rematch against the Chiefs and potentially lost Brandon Aiyuk for the season in the process — Pearsall provided a brief moment of collective euphoria. Exactly 50 days after being shot in San Francisco’s Union Square during a robbery attempt, Pearsall took the field at Levi’s Stadium and made his NFL debut, hauling in three catches for 21 yards.

“It meant everything considering all the adversity I went through this past month,” Pearsall said. “It was really good to go out there with my guys again. … When the incident happened, the first thing I was thinking about was the guys and coaches in this locker room and the entire staff. They did a really good job of rallying around me and making sure I stayed up. It was a huge blessing for me today.”

With a minute-and-a-half remaining in the first half, Purdy found Pearsall in the middle of the field for a six-yard gain, the first catch of Pearsall’s career. The crowd, understanding the significance of the moment, showered Pearsall with a standing ovation.

Pearsall, the 31st overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, ended up taking roughly 60 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. The 49ers initially planned to ease Pearsall into the offense, but that calculus changed due to injuries to Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel (illness).

“We celebrated that almost all week with him because it was great to have him back,” said head coach Kyle Shanahan. “It was great to have him back.”

Added quarterback Brock Purdy: “Having him back for his first game was awesome, just seeing him back out there making cuts and plays. He’s a baller, too, so we’re really excited for him and for his growth and to bring him with us.”

Pearsall, who practiced earlier this week for the first time since the incident, said that the biggest hurdle that he had to clear to get back on the field was the recovery, pointing out that there was a lot of scar tissue buildup in the area he was shot. He added that there was an emotional hurdle to clear as well, especially in the first few days following the incident.

“I have a lot of good people around me,” Pearsall said. “I have a lot of good family members — strong foundation. A lot of good people in this locker room are part of this staff. This organization did a great job rallying around me and putting resources in my direction to use.”

While Pearsall didn’t have a pronounced role in San Francisco’s offense during his debut, the rookie may need to take on more responsibility in the coming weeks.

Shortly after the first catch of his career, Aiyuk suffered a potentially season-ending ACL injury when he was tackled by the Chiefs’ Chamarri Conner and Trent McDuffie, a brutal development for a team that has already dealt with a slew of injuries. Should Aiyuk, indeed, be out for the remainder of the year, Pearsall will be among the young wideouts called upon to take on a bigger role.

“He runs really good routes. He’s really fast. He’s explosive,” said tight end George Kittle of Pearsall. “I think one thing that they have similarly is a dog mindset. ‘Put it on me. Put it on my shoulders.’ It sucks. (Aiyuk) had a hell of a week at practice. He was making unreal catches left and right. He was just starting to hit his stride in the season after not doing training camp.

“The NFL is a land of opportunity,” Kittle said. “Injuries happen. Stuff happens. Shitty things happen. Whos’ going to step up? Who’s going to rise to the occasion and take advantage of the opportunity? That’s what the NFL is. We have a lot of young players. It’s on our vets to pull them along, whether they are ready or not.”