Fred Warner confident Ricky Pearsall will be back better than ever and opens up on traumatic week for San Francisco 49ers
Fred Warner has opened up on how the team have responded to Ricky Pearsall’s shocking shooting last week.
The San Francisco 49ers receiver has been ruled out for the first month of the season after being shot in the chest while out shopping, but Warner believes the reaction shows just how close the bond in the camp is.
2
Pearsall was selected 31st overall in April’s draftCredit: GettyAnd seven days on from the incident, Pearsall has been FaceTimeing teammates, walking around the practise field and training facility and insisting he feels ready to play.
That won’t be the case, but in an exclusive interview for talkSPORT’s brand new End Zone YouTube channel, team captain Warner opened up on how the team have been dealing with the shocking events.
“We’re a close group in general, that’s how it’s always been here,” Warner exclusively told talkSPORT.
NFL WEEK 1″As long as long as I’ve been a 49er, you know, it’s been a great culture that’s been built guys that feel like it is a brotherhood.
“When you see somebody like your brother go through something like that, I think it does pull the group closer together.
“I think we’re we’re just gonna continue to press forward with the right mindset, and I know Ricky will be back better than ever.”
Pearsall, a first round pick from April’s draft, was shot in the chest during an incident near San Francisco’s Union Square that resulted in a 17-year-old being charged with attempted murder and robbery on Wednesday.
He won’t feature for the 49ers in their opener against the New York Jets in a fascinating Monday Night Football.
He was placed on the Non Football Related Injury/Illness list (NFI) on Monday, which means he will miss at least the first four weeks of the season.
But on Thursday, five days after the incident, he was walking around the field at practise and both coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch said that he will play again this season.
2
After being taken to hospital on Saturday, Pearsall was released on SundayCredit: x@KTVUPearsall’s mother, Erin, had revealed some of the details after the 23-year-old had been taken to hospital.
“Update on my baby boy,” she posted on Facebook. “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.”
Pearsall was released from hospital on Sunday, and by Monday was part of team meetings as well as being with his teammates at the team’s facility.
Such an incident occurring days ahead of the new season could shake players and coaches – but as Warner took talkSPORT inside the last week, details on how the club have rallied around each other outlined the support for their rookie receiver.
“It was a super tragic moment, I mean, I’m so grateful for obviously the outcome – Ricky, being safe and sound, being back in the building, you know,” he said.
“Thank goodness, thank God that he’s able to to be with us, because that was a really scary moment.
Jason Bell discusses whether it’s now or never for the San Francisco 49ers to win the Super Bowl
“We were there for him the team kind of pulled together in that moment and and stayed close through it and now it’s just good to have him back in the building.
“He’s made all the right stuff. I think we knew that before he even had to go through some like this.
“You see it there just his strength, courage through all of that to pull through and remain strong, and he’s he was only thinking about us through all of that, even in that moment. It just speaks to who he is.
The team’s start of season party saw Shanahan arrange for Pearsall to speak with all his teammates via a giant screen and speakers.
It has not been confirmed when he will make a full return to training as he follows the necessary procedures and protocols, but Shanahan is hopeful he will step things up in the next week.
“We always felt this way watching him on the football field and things like that,” Shanahan said this week.
“But kind of to watch how he handled that situation and watch how he’s been every day since; it shows how special of a guy he is.”
Read More on talkSPORTtalkSPORT is your home of the NFL on UK radio – join us for coverage of the opening Monday Night Football of the season from 1am on talkSPORT2 when the San Francisco 49ers host the New York Jets
Subscribe here to follow the newĀ talkSPORT End Zone NFL channel.
Stay Up To Date With The NFL
talkSPORT.com is covering more NFL than ever before this season, bringing you breaking news, expert insight and exclusive interviews.
To receive all the best of our NFL content, download the talkSPORT app and enable notifications. It’s super simple.
