49ers' Ricky Pearsall Finds Training Camp Appreciation After Overcoming Scary Rookie Season

The San Francisco 49ers are just past the halfway point of training camp in Santa Clara, but second-year receiver Ricky Pearsall is making sure to soak up each opportunity to prepare for the new season.

Because last year, he practically "rolled out of bed and started running routes."

After minor injuries held him out of much of the 2024 training camp, the former first-round pick out of Florida suffered a gunshot wound to the chest just before the regular season began. Pearsall was sidelined for nearly half of his rookie season, but made a full recovery.

"I just felt like I was behind the eight ball," Pearsall said, via AP. "I like to say that I rolled out of bed and started running routes because I damn near did. You can't really rehab a gunshot wound. So I basically rolled out of bed and started running routes in Week 7. ... From that Week 7 and on, that was my training camp. Those practices in between, before the games, that was my training camp, for me."

Pearsall saw some bright moments upon his return, but his play largely struggled finding any consistency. He had just two receptions from Week 11-15.

Some of that came from unfamiliarity with his quarterback Brock Purdy, who admitted that timing was an issue when Pearsall was brought into the fold after his recovery.

"We had a couple of those moments and there were times where he took it a little deeper and then broke open." Purdy said. "He was like, 'dude I was open.' I said in the timing of the play, I needed it quicker. So, we had moments like that, and that's part of getting to the NFL.

"I think toward the end of the last season, you saw Ricky come out his shell, he was playing within our system and timing."

Pearsall's down-field skillset was put on full display in Week 17, finishing with eight receptions, 141 yards and a touchdown - all career high totals for a single game.

With his confidence now high from a solid end to his otherwise scary rookie season, Pearsall is poised to assume a greater role in the 49ers offense this year. Deebo Samuel was traded to Washington, star wideout Brandon Aiyuk is recovering from a torn ACL, Jauan Jennings' future is in limbo following his extension or trade demand and Demarcus Robinson may face a suspension from a recent DUI case. Those question marks pin Pearsall as a "next man up" candidate to receive a lot of looks from Purdy.

Now participating in a proper training camp, Pearsall is ready to get his feet under him for a strong start to Year 2.

"To be honest, I'm approaching it the same exact way," Pearsall said about this year's camp. "Whether those guys are in the room or not, that's just how I look at myself. I just got to be able to step in that role. That's just how I look at it. I look at myself as being able to be a guy that goes out there and makes plays. Whether they're there or not, that's how I look at myself."

His body is now fully healthy, but the scars from that attempted robbery incident last year may never leave him. Pearsall has found a newfound appreciation for the sport - and life - following a situation that could've ended much worse.

"Unfortunately, I revisit that every single night I go to bed," he said. "I kind of just carry that with me. Now it's not as much as avoiding it and whether revisiting it or not revisiting it. It's more about how I deal with it and the light I put on it. It's more a positive light and things I can get out of that, to try to inspire other people. As far as my own personal stuff, I've been doing a better job dealing with it, myself."