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SANTA CLARA, Calif. — In a plot twist nobody saw coming—probably because they were too busy watching reality TV—San Francisco 49ers rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall dusted off his practice cleats and returned to the field Monday. Just nine days post “I’ve been shot during a robbery” episode, Pearsall is making his triumphant, if slightly chaotic, return to football.
The 49ers have opened a window for Pearsall to practice while he enjoys an extended vacation on the non-football injury list. Coach Kyle Shanahan emphasized there’s no rush to get him back, which is a clever way of saying, “Let’s see how many ‘Call of Duty’ games he can binge before we make any decisions.”
“I saw him warming up and couldn’t help but smile like a kid on Christmas morning,” exclaimed rookie guard Dominick Puni, likely still high from the adrenaline of seeing Pearsall alive and moving. “He’s going to be a game-changer for us, provided he can dodge both bullets and defensive backs.”
Pearsall’s appearance was like a sunbeam on a foggy San Francisco day, a therapeutic respite after the drama of August 31, when he was shot in the chest during a robbery that probably felt like a bad Netflix thriller. Surprisingly, Pearsall skipped the full season of hospital food and swift recovery to return to workouts just a week after being hospitalized overnight. Talk about commitment to the game!
At practice, Pearsall was seen busting moves that would put most of us to shame, breaking down huddles like a kid who just had a double scoop of ice cream. Apparently, fighting off gunfire gives you rhythm.
Fellow newbie, Jacob Cowing, reminisced about meeting Pearsall in January and how he noticed Pearsall had the “it factor.” You know, the one that compels you to dodge bullets and come back to practice like it’s just a Tuesday in the suburbs. “All the craziness he’s faced has just made him more of a superhero, or at least a local legend,” Cowing said, ‘and it’s great to see him back out there, helmet on, jersey on—ready to face whatever comes next, preferably just footballs.’”
Pearsall, who was fresher than a new iPhone at launch after being drafted in the first round in April, had previously missed a chunk of training camp due to an annoying cocktail of hamstring and shoulder injuries. Yes, because dramatic entrances always seem to come just as you’re finally healthy, right?
Originally starting at Arizona State before transferring to Florida—probably for the sun and fun—Pearsall finished his college career looking like a typo come to life: 159 catches, 2,420 yards, and 14 touchdowns. Let’s hope his path to the NFL remains free of unexpected plot twists—unless they involve him scoring a lot of touchdowns.
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