49ers’ Ricky Pearsall Released from Hospital After Being Shot in Chest

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVSeptember 1, 2024

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

The San Francisco 49ers announced rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was released from the hospital Sunday.

San Francisco 49ers @49ersAn update on Ricky Pearsall. pic.twitter.com/aoF2s9Ztcm

The update from the team comes after Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reported he was upgraded to “fair condition” by Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital on Sunday after he was shot on Saturday.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter and David Lombardi of The Athletic shared an update from Pearsall’s mother, Erin, as well:

Adam Schefter @AdamSchefterRicky Pearsall’s mother said in a social media post Sunday that the bullet exited out her son’s back and missed his vital organs, adding that he is “extremely lucky.”

David Lombardi @LombardiHimselfRicky Pearsall’s mom, Erin, posted on Facebook that the bullet entered Pearsall’s chest and exited his back without hitting any vital organs pic.twitter.com/YXKUY4m8I3

On Saturday, the 49ers announced he was in “serious but stable condition” as the “victim of an attempted robbery and shooting.”

KTXL’s Sean Cunningham shared an update from the San Francisco Police Department on Saturday that said “Pearsall was shot through the chest in a robbery attempt over a Rolex. He was headed to a signing event on Geary & Market. There was a struggle for the gun. Both Ricky & the suspect were shot. Both parties stable at SF General Hospital.”

San Francisco Chief of Police and Mayor London Breed also released statements:

SFPD Chief Scott @SFPDChief(2/2) Thankfully, our hard-working officers made a swift arrest in this case and we will do everything within our power to ensure justice is served.

London Breed @LondonBreedThis afternoon, there was an attempted robbery in Union Square involving San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall and he was shot.

SFPD was on scene immediately and an arrest of the shooter was made.

My thoughts are with Ricky and his family at this time.

We will…

The 49ers selected Pearsall out of Florida with a first-round pick at No. 31 overall in the 2024 NFL draft. He started his collegiate career at Arizona State and transferred to the Gators ahead of the 2022 campaign.

Pearsall’s best college season came with Florida in 2023 when he tallied 65 catches for 965 yards and four touchdowns. That was enough to convince the 49ers to use a first-round pick on him and add him to a wide receiver group that also includes Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel.

The rookie spent some time this summer on the non-football injury list thanks to a hamstring injury he suffered while working out away from the team’s facility, but the 49ers activated him on July 29.

San Francisco’s first game of the regular season is on Sept. 9 against the New York Jets.