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Kyle Shanahan Announces Injury Update For Key WR

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated May 29, 2025 6:47 PM ET

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed an injury to Ricky Pearsall.

On Thursday, Shanahan told reporters that Pearsall tweaked his hamstring. The 24-year-old wide receiver won't participate in the rest of San Francisco's organized team activities through next week and likely won't practice until training camp in July.

Of course, this isn't the most significant setback of Pearsall's young career. Last August, he was shot in the chest during an attempted robbery.

Less than two months later, Pearsall made his NFL debut. The first-round pick caught 31 of 46 targets for 400 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie.

"How quick he came back from that and then when he did," Shanahan said in January, "just to watch him go through rookie things in a live NFL game and then having to watch him come back from that stuff throughout the year and still hit a rookie wall, without a foundation of an offseason. I thought it was a huge success for him this year."

Per The Athletic's Matt Barrows, Pearsall changed his jersey number from No. 14 to No. 1. That number could reflect his new positioning on San Francisco's depth chart.

The 49ers traded Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders earlier this offseason, and Brandon Aiyuk is still recovering from a knee injury that sidelined him for last season's final 10 games. NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco recently told Rich Eisen there's a "strong possibility" Aiyuk opens the 2025 season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, making him ineligible for the first four games.

If he's healthy, Pearsall could begin his second season with an expanded role. He closed his rookie campaign strong, submitting 216 yards and two touchdowns in his final two games.

Jauan Jennings and Jacob Cowing also return to a receiving room that added DeMarcus Robinson. Following a 6-11 season derailed by injuries, the 49ers signed Brock Purdy to a $265 million extension that solidifies him as the franchise's long-term fixture under center.

Pearsall enters his sophomore season with high hopes, so 49ers fans will hope Thursday's news is just a precautionary setback.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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