San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch spoke to reporters on Tuesday and provided an update on rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, who was shot in the chest over the weekend.
Read more: 49ers Rookie Ricky Pearsall in Stable Condition After Being Shot in San Francisco
The 23-year-old was struck by a gunshot in an attempted robbery in San Francisco on Saturday. He was rushed to the hospital, but was discharged less than 24 hours later. The bullet went through his chest and back, but didn’t hit any vital organs.
“By the grace of God, Ricky Pearsall’s here with the team and doing really well,” Lynch said to reporters on Tuesday. “We just all feel incredibly blessed. … It was nothing short of miraculous that he came out of this as good as he did.”
The 49ers placed Pearsall on the non-football injury list, meaning he’ll be out for the first four games of the season. However, Lynch did not only say that Pearsall will play football again, he expressed optimism that it could be as soon as this season.
“Oh yeah,” Lynch said when asked if he was confident Pearsall could contribute this season, via NFL.com. “He’s doing remarkably well. It’s kind of uncharted territory. It’s not every day that you deal with something like this.”
SANTA CLARA, CA – AUGUST 18: Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall #14 of the San Francisco 49ers stands on the field prior to an NFL preseason football game against the New Orleans Saints, at Levi’s Stadium on August 18, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. Pearsall is recovering very well from his gunshot wound.
Brooke Sutton/Getty Images
On Sunday, Pearsall’s mother provided an update on her son’s condition.
Read more: Ricky Pearsall’s Mom Provides Latest Update Following 49ers Rookie Being Shot
“Update on my baby boy. First and far most I want to thank GOD for protecting my baby boy. He is extremely lucky, GOD shielded him. he was shot in the chest and it exited out his back. Thanks be to GOD it missed his vital organs. He is in good spirits right now. Life is so precious my friends. Please love each other. My son was spared today by the grace of GOD. Please pray for my baby.”
Lynch said that Pearsall’s earliest concerns were when he could get back on the field. As for Lynch, he just wants to make sure Pearsall has the time to fully heal.
“Ultimately we felt the number one thing we had to be concerned with was Ricky’s wellbeing, physically, emotionally, mentally,” Lynch said. “It was just a lot for him to work through. Our medical experts felt [it was] too much to ask to come back within the next four weeks. We made that decision to at least give him that time. [It’s] really, really miraculous.”
The 49ers open their season on Monday, Sept. 9 against the New York Jets. The earliest Pearsall would be eligible to return is Week 5 (Sunday, Oct. 6) against the Arizona Cardinals.
