The 49ers might have viewed any production from WR Ricky Pearsall this season as a luxury after the rookie survived an August shooting , but Pearsall is anything but a luxury now. With Brandon Aiyuk out for the remainder of the season and Pearsall fully healthy, the first-round pick is quickly becoming an integral piece of a Super Bowl-hopeful offense. He delivered on Sunday with the first touchdown of his career.
Pearsall found the end zone at the end of a long pass from Brock Purdy, proving he belongs in the young quarterback's circle of trust. Here's a look at how Pearsall went from a shooting victim to an NFL end zone in just 71 days. SN's NFL HQ: Live NFL scores | Updated NFL standings | Full NFL schedule Ricky Pearsall first NFL touchdown The 49ers' first score of the day against the Buccaneers came courtesy of Pearsall's first NFL touchdown" First NFL TD for Ricky Pearsall !!️ 📺 #SFvsTB on FOX pic.
twitter.com/J8kjN1jYLB Purdy threw a laser to Pearsall on second down, and the rookie took it an additional 30 yards to the end zone by beating All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. along the way.
The magical moment came 71 days after Pearsall was shot in the chest during an attempted robbery in downtown San Francisco. The rookie was fortunate enough to walk into the ambulance under his own power and survive the shooting, and the 49ers took time earlier in the season to honor the first responders who made sure Pearsall was treated immediately. Pearsall set a goal of gettin.