When San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Dominick Puni first heard the news that fellow rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall had been shot, he was stunned. Like many others, he scrambled to gather as much information as possible.
Pearsall was shot in the chest during a robbery attempt on August 31 while shopping for luggage in Union Square, a bustling commercial area in San Francisco. Just over six weeks later, the 49ers opened his practice window, and a visibly excited Pearsall rejoined his teammates on the field for the first time since the frightening incident.
"I think we've all gotten to know each other real well," Puni told reporters after Monday's practice. "We do these rookie meetings once a week, too. I think that gives us a huge advantage to just kind of build friendships because it's all like being a freshman again. We're all going kind of through the same thing our first year. So, yeah, it's real awesome."
These rookie meetings aren't about on-field instruction. Instead, they emphasize the off-field responsibilities of being an NFL player, covering everything from financials to social media conduct—topics that coaches rarely have time to address.
Pearsall is unlikely to play on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, as the 49ers are proceeding cautiously regarding his return. They have 21 days to activate him off the non-football injury (NFI) list, giving him time to ease back into football shape.
"It's tough," Puni responded when asked how long that might take. "You never know how long it takes to get in football shape again, so I couldn't tell you. Receivers are different than O-line. Everyone's different. I just think the more reps he gets, the better off he will be."
Fellow rookie wideout Jacob Cowing echoed Puni's sentiments, adding that Pearsall's undeniable swagger is apparent during practice.
"Coldest white boy I've ever seen, I ain't gonna lie," Cowing said. "Swaggiest white boy I've ever seen, for sure. Definitely has that 'it' factor about him. Like I said before, just his swag, his style, his style to play with football, even outside of football.
"Just a great dude. He likes to have fun hanging out with the guys. Likes the game, too. So, just all around, just, he has that 'it' factor, for sure."
"Coldest white boy I've ever seen."
Jacob Cowing on Pearsall's swag 😂 pic.twitter.com/rtOBYm1eiz
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) October 14, 2024
Said rookie safety Malik Mustapha: "Definitely, off the field, he got a kind of charisma—like style—to him that not a lot of people possess. At the end of day, he's definitely a cool person as well. On and off the field, just someone that you want to be around."
Pearsall's on-field energy was immediately felt.
"It was a Monday practice and he was juiced," quarterback Brock Purdy said via The Athletic. "It was pretty cool."
Puni noted that Pearsall hasn't changed much since the day they met, though the August incident has left a mark on him.
"I think, now, the only difference is he's just real grateful for everything because nobody really knows until you go through something like that," Puni shared. "I don't know. You can just tell how grateful he is to be here. He's just taking everything in now, just day by day. We just love him as a person."
While Puni admits he's no scout, he sees the traits that made Pearsall the 49ers' 31st overall pick.
"I think just really an explosive threat, a route-runner, just to be able to get open, create separation," Puni said.
Mustapha added, "His route running, he's a very precision guy, and he has a lot of speed, too. Another thing about him, he's just very detailed. He's a guy that's going to get you [with his] run after the catch, too, and he's just a playmaker at the end of the day. So being able to see him do that to other teams that we face is going to be a good thing for us."
The 49ers are optimistic that Pearsall's return will provide a lift to a team with its sights set on a championship. For now, Pearsall is focused on rebuilding his strength and getting back into peak form, grateful for the opportunity to return to the game he loves.
