San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan provided an optimistic update on rookie first-round wide receiver Ricky Pearsall.
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Shanahan spoke to the media following Friday’s preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders and said that Pearsall should be ready for their Week 1 matchup on Monday Night Football against the New York Jets.
“I hope so,” Shanahan said. “We’ll see how he is this week. Hoping he gets into practice this week, and if he does, that’s a pretty good sign that he could be available for then.”
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Pearsall started training camp on the non-football injury list and practiced just one week before being sidelined again. He was sidelined for all three preseason games, but Shanahan believes she will be ready for their first game, which is a little more than two weeks away.
The rookie wide receiver has been sidelined due to a shoulder injury. Shanahan also added that Pearsall’s shoulder was “tender” after aggravating the injury, and he wanted to give him “time to come back from it.”
The 49ers selected the 23-year-old pass catcher in the 2024 NFL draft with the No. 31 overall pick in the first round. Many viewed Pearsall as Brandon Aiyuk’s potential replacement, as he is currently in an ongoing battle for a new, hefty contract.
Pearsall was the first wide receiver the Niners selected in the first round since Aiyuk. In five years at Arizona State and Flordia, he tailed 2,420 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns on 159 catches. Pearsall was also the Gators’ top punt returner last season.
Although Aiyuk is still with the team and traveled with them for their preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders, a contract has yet to be resolved. It’s unclear if the 49ers’ front office is eager to get a contract with Aiyuk, as we are a little over two weeks away from the start of the 2024 season.
The 49ers will kick off their season against the Jets on the road, and while they lack no offensive talent, it will be a tough challenge if they play without one of their top players if worse comes to worst. The Jets have one of the league’s best defenses, and with the return of Aaron Rodgers, the Jets will look to be a formidable squad in the coming season.
Pearsall could make an impact with the Niners if everything pans out, alongside Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Jauan Jennings, and Kyle Juszczyk, led by quarterback Brock Purdy.
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