San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall has been placed on the non-football injury list after he was shot during an attempted robbery.
The move Monday frees up a spot on the 53-man roster for the 49ers as Pearsall recovers after being shot in the chest Saturday in downtown San Francisco. Pearsall was hospitalized overnight and was released Sunday from San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.
The team has not given any indication as to how long Pearsall will be out, but he must miss at least four games while on the non-football injury list. The Niners can bring Pearsall back to the active roster after that by using one of their eight designations to bring a player off an injured list in the regular season. Teams also get two additional returner designations if they make the postseason in a rule change this season.
Pearsall was walking alone carrying shopping bags to his car shortly after 3:30 p.m. when a juvenile suspect attempted to rob him with a gun on Geary Boulevard in the Union Square area, authorities said.
Officers in the area responded immediately and provided emergency medical assistance and arrested the suspect. Pearsall was seen on a witness video with a large wound to his chest as he was helped into an ambulance.
Police identified the suspect as a 17-year-old man from Tracy, about 60 miles east of San Francisco.
Pearsall was selected in the first round of April’s draft by the 49ers with the 31st overall pick, but injuries have slowed him since joining the team.
He missed time during training camp with hamstring and shoulder issues before returning to practice last week in a blue non-contact jersey while his shoulder heals.
Pearsall began his college career at Arizona State and transferred to Florida for his final two seasons. He had 65 receptions for 965 yards and four touchdowns last season for the Gators and finished his college career with 159 receptions for 2,420 yards and 14 TDs.
San Francisco had kept an extra receiver on the initial 53-man roster because star Brandon Aiyuk had not practiced due to a contract dispute that was ultimately resolved Thursday.
The Niners begin the season with Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel as starters and Jauan Jennings, Chris Conley, Ronnie Bell and rookie Jacob Cowing as reserves.
San Francisco filled Pearsall’s roster spot by signing tackle Brandon Parker, who was released last week. The Niners needed an extra tackle behind Jaylon Moore and Colton McKivitz because All-Pro Trent Williams remains sidelined while seeking a new contract.
The 49ers also signed defensive lineman Sam Okuayinonu to the practice squad after releasing him last week. Offensive lineman Sebastian Gutierrez was signed off the practice squad.
