SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco 49ers rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall was placed on the non-football injury list after he was shot during an attempted robbery.
The move made Monday clears up a spot on the 53-man roster for the 49ers while Pearsall recovers after being shot in the chest Saturday in central San Francisco. Pearsall was hospitalized overnight and released on Sunday from the San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.
The team hasn't given any indication on how long Pearsall will be out but he must miss at least four games while on the non-football injury list. The Niners can bring Pearsall back to the active roster after that by using one of their eight designations to bring a player off an injured list in the regular season. Teams also get two additional return designations if they make the postseason in a rule change this season.
Pearsall was walking alone carrying shopping bags to his car shortly after 3:30 p.m. Saturday when a juvenile suspect attempted to rob him with a gun on Geary Boulevard in the Union Square area, officials said.
Officers in the area responded immediately and provided emergency medical aid and arrested the suspect. Pearsall was shown on video from a witness with a large chest wound as he was helped into an ambulance.
Police identified the suspect as a 17-year-old male resident of Tracy, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) east of San Francisco.
Pearsall was drafted in the first round in April by the 49ers with the 31st overall pick but has been slowed by injuries since joining the team.
He missed time during training camp because of hamstring and shoulder issues before returning to practice this past week with a noncontact blue jersey while his shoulder heals.
