San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan recently shared some encouraging news regarding rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall.
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After the 49ers’ preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders, Shanahan indicated that Pearsall is on track to be available for the Week 1 Monday Night Football game against the New York Jets.
“I hope so,” Shanahan remarked. “We’ll see how he is this week. If he can practice, that’s a good sign for his availability.”
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Pearsall, who started training camp on the non-football injury list, has missed all three preseason games due to a shoulder issue. Shanahan mentioned that the injury was “tender,” and they want to give Pearsall adequate time to recover.
Selected 31st overall in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the 23-year-old receiver is seen as a potential successor to Brandon Aiyuk, who is currently in contract negotiations. Pearsall made quite an impact in college, accumulating 2,420 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns during his five years split between Arizona State and Florida. He was also the Gators’ leading punt returner last season.
Despite Aiyuk traveling with the team for their preseason finale, a new contract has yet to be reached, leaving the 49ers’ front office in a bit of a puzzle as the season opener nears.
The 49ers face a challenging start to the season against the Jets, who possess a strong defense and a high-powered offense featuring Aaron Rodgers. Playing without one of their key players like Pearsall could complicate their game plan, although they still have a wealth of offensive talent with stars like Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Jauan Jennings, and Kyle Juszczyk, led by quarterback Brock Purdy.
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