The San Francisco 49ers have placed rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall on the reserve/non-football injury list following a shooting incident in San Francisco. Pearsall, who was shot in the chest during an attempted robbery, will miss at least the first four games of the NFL season as he recovers. In response to his absence, the 49ers signed offensive tackle Brandon Parker to a one-year contract to fill the open spot on their 53-man roster.
The shooting took place near Union Square on a Saturday afternoon when a 17-year-old attempted to rob Pearsall at gunpoint. A struggle ensued, resulting in both Pearsall and the suspect being shot. Pearsall was rushed to San Francisco General Hospital, where he was initially listed in stable condition before being upgraded to fair condition. He was released from the hospital the following day.
Pearsall’s mother provided an update via social media, revealing that the bullet had passed through her son’s chest and exited his back without hitting any vital organs. Pearsall had been in the area for an autograph signing event prior to the robbery attempt. The incident occurred shortly after 3:30 p.m., and emergency responders arrived at the scene within minutes.
San Francisco Police Chief William Scott confirmed that the suspect was apprehended immediately after the shooting and is believed to have acted alone. The police are reviewing surveillance footage from the area to gather more details. There is no indication that Pearsall was targeted because of his status as a professional football player. The District Attorney is expected to decide on charges against the juvenile suspect in the coming days.
In light of Pearsall’s injury, the 49ers added Brandon Parker to their roster, providing additional depth to their offensive line. Parker, who had participated in the team’s preseason activities, is expected to support the starting tackles as the team continues contract negotiations with left tackle Trent Williams. The 49ers are set to open their season at home against the New York Jets on September 9.
