San Francisco 49ers rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall has been placed on the non-football injury list after being shot during an attempted robbery.
This decision, made on Monday, opens a spot on the 53-man roster for the 49ers while Pearsall recovers from being shot in the chest on Saturday in central San Francisco. Pearsall was hospitalized overnight and was released on Sunday from the San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.
The team hasn’t said how long Pearsall will be out, but he must miss at least four games while on the non-football injury list. The 49ers can bring him back to the active roster after that by using one of their eight return designations for players on the injured list during the regular season.
Teams also get two additional return designations if they make the playoffs under a new rule this season.
Pearsall was walking alone with shopping bags to his car shortly after 3:30 p.m. on Saturday when a juvenile suspect tried to rob him at gunpoint on Geary Boulevard in the Union Square area, according to officials.
Police responded quickly, provided emergency medical help, and arrested the suspect. Pearsall was seen on video from a witness with a large chest wound being helped into an ambulance.
The suspect was identified as a 17-year-old male from Tracy, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) east of San Francisco.
Pearsall was drafted by the 49ers in the first round in April with the 31st overall pick but has been dealing with injuries since joining the team.
He missed part of training camp due to hamstring and shoulder problems but returned to practice this past week wearing a noncontact blue jersey while his shoulder heals.
