49ers receiver Ricky Pearsall's return adds energy to the start of Chiefs week

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Before Monday’s practice got underway, San Francisco 49ers team leaders like Fred Warner beckoned Ricky Pearsall to the center of the huddle to start the session. When it was over, Kyle Shanahan had the rookie return to the huddle to break it down.

Monday’s session was short, just 40 minutes, something the 49ers refer to as a “bonus” practice. But the fact that Pearsall took part — his first practice since he was shot in the chest on Aug. 31 — gave it uncommon energy.

The most excited player was Pearsall, who has a natural swagger and who didn’t shy away from being in the spotlight — twice.

“I don’t think there’s any stage that’s too bright for him,” fellow rookie receiver Jacob Cowing said.

“It was a Monday practice and he was juiced,” Brock Purdy said. “It was pretty cool.”

Pearsall, the 49ers’ first-round draft pick this year, didn’t speak to reporters afterward. He’s told the team he will speak publicly about the incident and his recovery after his first game back.

As for when that might be, the 49ers officially opened his practice window on Monday, which means they have three weeks to move him to the active roster. If they don’t, he’d remain on the non-football injury list, effectively ending his season.

Shanahan said last week the team probably wouldn’t activate Pearsall in time for Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Not only has Pearsall spent the last month and a half recovering from the August robbery attempt in San Francisco, he was injured for most of training camp and didn’t take part in many practices.

“I would think it’d be a longer ramp-up period, but health-wise and everything, he is totally good to go,” Shanahan said. “But I really won’t decide that stuff until we start watching him practice. We’re not going to rush it or anything. If he’s ready, he’s ready. And if he’s not, we’ve got a few weeks.”

As long as the 49ers’ top three players at the position — Deebo Samuel Sr., Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk — are healthy, it’s hard to see Pearsall getting a lot of game-day snaps. Chris Conley, Ronnie Bell and Cowing have been the backups to start the season and Pearsall likely would replace one of those players.

If one of the top three were injured, Pearsall’s role likely would expand. Though he didn’t practice much in the summer, he and Purdy had an easy rapport in the spring with Pearsall’s quickness and ability to separate standing out. Pearsall also has a background as a punt returner and at least could serve as a backup at that spot.

Although brief, Monday’s practice offered a glimpse at the 49ers’ health heading into their game with the Chiefs.

1️⃣4️⃣ back to it! pic.twitter.com/PWpti3RSSm

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 14, 2024

Running back Jordan Mason (shoulder) was on hand, albeit in a blue, no-contact jersey, a positive sign for his Sunday availability. Cornerback Charvarius Ward (knee) and linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf) also took part in the session.

Those not on hand included kickers Jake Moody (ankle) and Matthew Wright (shoulder), both of whom were injured while attempting tackles on kickoffs, as well as safety Malik Mustapha (ankle) and defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (knee), who were sprinting on a side field.

If they don’t have Mustapha, the 49ers would be light at safety with Ji’Ayir Brown and George Odum the only healthy safeties on the active roster. The team has one safety, undrafted rookie Jaylen Mahoney, on the practice squad.

Pearsall’s ultimate return to the lineup might coincide with several other comebacks.

Offensive lineman Jon Feliciano posted “I’m ready” on X on Monday morning, an indication he’s nearing the end of his rehabilitation from a knee injury. He’d quickly become the 49ers’ top backup center once he comes off of injured reserve and he’d be the top candidate to take over the starting job if there’s an issue with starter Jake Brendel.

At linebacker, the 49ers have been vague on Dre Greenlaw’s return from his February surgery on his torn Achilles with Shanahan saying he might be back “midseason.” The week after the bye, Nov. 10 in Tampa, looks like a reasonable date for Greenlaw, whose rehabilitation has gone smoothly and whose famous feistiness is very much intact.

The league recently fined him $14,069 and the 49ers $100,000 for shoving Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride on the sideline. The NFL is cracking down on incidents involving sideline personnel not active for games after the fracas involving Greenlaw and Philadelphia Eagles security official Dom DiSandro last season.

Another player who seems earmarked for a post-bye return: Christian McCaffrey.

He’s been cautiously ramping up his activity level over the past two weeks in an effort to eradicate the Achilles tendonitis that bothered him throughout the summer. He’s done so without any flare-ups so far and the plan seems to be to continue that ramp-up process until he’s able to take part in practice. If he can handle practices, he’d be ready to go for games.

Monday’s session, meanwhile, was all about Pearsall, who stunned teammates when he visited them at the team facility two days after he was shot. The bullet went in his chest and out the side of his back without striking any vital organs or even a rib. He was discharged from the hospital less than 24 hours after it occurred.

Offensive lineman Dominick Puni said the team’s rookie class already was close before the Aug. 31 incident and has become even tighter since. He said he and his teammates started smiling when they saw Pearsall, in his red jersey and gold helmet, warming up before Monday’s session.

“He was real cool when I met him the first time,” Puni said. “He’s still the same person. The only difference is he’s real grateful about everything.”

(Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)