The San Francisco 49ers had initially planned to ease rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall back into form as he recovered from being shot in the chest earlier this year. However, those plans changed quickly when Brandon Aiyuk suffered a season-ending knee injury, tearing ligaments in his right knee during Sunday’s game.
With Aiyuk out for the season, Pearsall is now set to step into a larger role, becoming a key component of San Francisco’s offense. What was once a luxury depth option is now a crucial opportunity for the rookie to showcase his talent.
“There are definitely a lot of opportunities for us,” Pearsall said Wednesday, referring to himself and fellow rookie receiver Jacob Cowing. “Obviously, it hurts to see a guy like B.A. go down—he’s one of our leaders, a big playmaker, and one of my close friends. It broke my heart to see him get injured. Now, a lot of rookies, including myself, need to step up.”
The 49ers are facing a shortage of offensive playmakers. In addition to Aiyuk’s injury, All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey has been sidelined with Achilles tendinitis since August. The team’s other top receivers are also dealing with injuries. Deebo Samuel missed practice after being hospitalized for pneumonia, and Jauan Jennings is recovering from a hip injury that may keep him out for a second straight game.
In his NFL debut, Pearsall played 48 snaps against the Kansas City Chiefs, recording three catches for 21 yards. However, there were some miscommunications, including a route mix-up on his first target that resulted in an incompletion late in the first half.
“It was just a communication error,” Pearsall admitted. “We haven’t had many reps together with me being out. I was just a few yards too deep. If I cut that route shorter, the ball would’ve been right on my chest.”
Pearsall, who spent most of his practice time at the “X” receiver spot on the line of scrimmage, also got opportunities to play out of the slot due to the team’s injury woes. Coach Kyle Shanahan was pleased with Pearsall’s performance in that role and hopes to build on it for the 49ers’ upcoming game against the Dallas Cowboys.
“I think Ricky is wired to run every route,” Shanahan said. “He’s a plug-and-play receiver. He’s not limited to just a small route tree; he can run the whole tree.”
Pearsall was drafted by the 49ers in the first round with the 31st pick in April, largely due to his versatility. However, his rookie season got off to a rough start. He missed most of training camp with hamstring and shoulder injuries and was then shot in the chest during a robbery attempt in San Francisco’s Union Square on August 31. Miraculously, Pearsall avoided damage to any major organs and was back at the team facility the following week.
After making his debut, Pearsall sees room for growth. “I saw a lot of areas where I can improve,” he said. “Missing training camp and the early part of the season means I’ve got a lot of work to do. But I’m ready to grind, improve, and keep working hard.”
Team Notes: The 49ers promoted DT Evan Anderson from the practice squad to fill Aiyuk’s roster spot. George Kittle (foot), Kevin Givens (groin), George Odum (knee), and Trent Williams (veteran day) missed practice. Nick Bosa (elbow), Jordan Mason (shoulder), and Chris Conley (ankle) were limited in practice. San Francisco also signed WR Malik Turner and OL Dieter Eiselen to the practice squad.
