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As expected, Ricky Pearsall will make his NFL debut on Sunday. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Friday the first-round rookie wideout will be activated from the NFI list in time for Week 7.
"The guys are pumped. He's been around the guys for a while now, so it's not like he hasn't been around, but practicing all week," Shanahan told the media, via NFL.com's Nick Shook. "It's been great to see him out there. I think the guys were real happy for him that he could get back and be a part of it. He's had a hell of a week, and we're just pumped to get him out there with us."
The news does not come as a surprise since Pearsall began practicing this week. San Francisco had 21 days to activate him, but much less time than that will be required to bring him into the picture. The move confirms Pearsall’s impressive progress in recovering from the gunshot wound he suffered in August as the victim of an attempted robbery.
The 24-year-old’s move to the NFI list confirmed he would miss at least the first four weeks of the campaign. The team understandably took a cautious approach with his rehab process, and now he is set to handle a rotational role in San Francisco’s passing game. Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel are healthy, but fellow wideout Jauan Jennings will be sidelined for Week 7. That could allow Pearsall to log a notable workload in his debut.
The Arizona State and Florida product faces high expectations as the 49ers’ top pick in this month’s draft. Aiyuk is attached to a big-ticket deal, but Samuel has only one year (without guaranteed salary) left on his pact after 2024. That — coupled with the team’s other upcoming financial priorities, including a Brock Purdy extension — has led to speculation Samuel could be cut or traded this offseason. Moving on from him would position Pearsall to operate as a key, cost-controlled offensive playmaker for years to come.
In other injury news, Shanahan added kicker Matthew Wright will be placed on injured reserve. San Francisco’s Jake Moody replacement is dealing with a shoulder injury he suffered during his season debut, and an IR stint will sideline him for at least the next four games. Former Packer Anders Carlson was added to the practice squad in the wake of Wright’s injury, and he will be elevated Saturday to take on kicking duties for, potentially, the foreseeable future.
Bringing Pearsall onto the active roster will use up one of the 49ers’ in-season activations. They will now have six available, with a number of other players eligible to be brought off IR; that will be the case for Wright down the road, although by that point Moody may be fully healthy.
More must-reads:
- 49ers GM offers notable update on Christian McCaffrey
- Browns HC shares big news about Nick Chubb
- The 'Single-season sack leaders by NFL team' quiz
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Ichiro had the most backhanded compliment for Marlins during Hall of Fame speech
Ichiro Suzuki delivered an amazing speech as he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, and it even included a surprising swipe at one of his own former teams. During the iconic speech, Ichiro took the time to thank each of of the three MLB teams that he played for across his 19 MLB seasons. When he arrived at the Miami Marlins, he made a hilarious wisecrack about how he had never heard of the team before they offered him a contract in 2015. “And to the Miami Marlins: I appreciate David Samson and Mike Hill for coming today. Honestly, when you guys called to offer me a contract for 2015, I had never heard of your team,” Ichiro joked. Many were surprised to hear Ichiro deliver his speech in English, as he almost always used an interpreter in interviews during and after his playing career. The fact that the 51-year-old was able to entertain the crowd while not speaking in his native language made the speech even more iconic. While thanking the New York Yankees, Ichiro had a funny comment about how his former teammates were only there to support CC Sabathia, who was also being inducted into Cooperstown. Ichiro is one of the greatest hitters in MLB history, and fans have enjoyed seeing the less serious side of him in recent months. Earlier this year, he also took a hilarious shot at the lone Hall of Fame voter who snubbed him. Ichiro called out the voter again during his speech on Sunday.
Bruins' David Pastrnak Calls Out Canadiens' Juraj Slafkovsky: He Just Lacks Humility'
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Red Sox fans have one major concern after series win over Dodgers
The Boston Red Sox won their series against the defending World Series-champion Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, but fans are crossing their fingers that the impressive victory did not come at a cost. The Red Sox took two out of three games from the Dodgers with their 4-3 win at Fenway Park on Sunday. Alex Bregman hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Boston's bullpen was lights out after starting pitcher Walker Buehler allowed three earned runs over 4 2/3 innings. Not everything went the Red Sox's way, however. Closer Aroldis Chapman came on to pitch in the eighth, and he issued back-to-back walks to Miguel Rojas and Mookie Betts. Chapman then got Shohei Ohtani to fly out before the left-hander was removed from the game. Chapman was accompanied by a trainer as he walked gingerly off the field. Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters after the game that Chapman experienced tightness in his back. Cora said he is hopeful Chapman will not have to go on the injured list. Chapman also downplayed the issue and said he was dealing with back spasms. He does not expect to miss significant time. Even if Chapman winds up being fine, the ailment is a reminder that the Red Sox need to bolster their bullpen ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. Chapman has been Boston's best reliever this season. He has a 1.30 ERA across 45 appearances and has struck out 61 batters across 41 2/3 innings. His 0.82 WHIP is the lowest mark of his career since 2012. The Red Sox are fighting for an AL wild-card spot, and Chapman is the most important piece of their bullpen. If they intend to make a postseason run, they should focus on adding another arm in the coming days, regardless of the extent of Chapman's injury.
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