49ers’ Ricky Pearsall enters camp in ‘positive light’ despite shooting flashbacks

SANTA CLARA – Ricky Pearsall’s upbeat presence at 49ers training camp reflects his healthy strides, and not just physically.

It’s been 11 months since he survived a gunshot wound through his right chest in an attempted robbery he foiled near San Francisco’s Union Square.

“Unfortunately, I revisit that every single night I go to bed,” Pearsall said after Thursday’s practice. “I kind of carry that with me. Now it’s not as much as avoiding it and whether or not to revisit it. It’s more about how I deal with it and the light I put on it.

“It’s a positive light and things I can get out of that, to try to inspire other people. I’ve been doing a better job dealing with it, myself.”

Pearsall’s health – mentally, emotionally, spiritually and, more obvious, physically – is a major storyline at camp, even more so because the 49ers’ receiving corps is missing Brandon Aiyuk (knee; Physically Unable to Perform list), Jauan Jennings (calf) and Jacob Cowing (hamstring), not to mention Deebo Samuel, one of Pearsall’s rookie mentors who got traded in March to Washington.

Pearsall strongly finished the most improbable of rookie years by producing 210 yards on 14 catches over the final two games, with a touchdown in each start. The day after the season ended, Pearsall said he planned on using part of the offseason to reflect on his death-defying incident, perhaps even reaching out to the 17-year-old suspect from Tracy who was immediately apprehended and sent to Juvenile Hall.

“That’s something I’ll probably do moving forward, maybe not right now because there are a lot of other things I want to focus on that are my priorities,” Pearsall said Thursday. “But when it gets to that point where I can sit down and talk to the kid, I want to first see if he’s open to it. That’s important to me.”

That trauma delayed Pearsall’s NFL debut until a Week 7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, and Pearsall said the ensuing weeks of practice essentially were his training camp, most of which he missed in August because of hamstring and shoulder issues.

He’s now recovered from May’s after-practice hamstring strain that had him open this camp on the PUP list. Also, the left shoulder that’s slipped out of socket for years no longer requires a no-contact jersey like last summer.

Now wearing Samuel’s former No. 1 jersey, Pearsall, a 2024 first-round pick at No. 31 overall, remains limited through three practices since Sunday’s camp debut.

“We’re still trying to get Ricky back. We’re easing him in,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “Today he got like eight plays. It’ll get there. We’re trying to make sure he can last throughout camp.”

Pearsall caught passes from both Brock Purdy and backup Mac Jones in Thursday’s session. The connection with Purdy looks in sync, and that can be traced not only to last season but this offseason’s throwing sessions in Florida, Arizona and, of course, Santa Clara.

Pearsall said this camp’s onboarding is difficult because he loves practicing (“You get to try (stuff) and learn from it”) and because he’s used to getting more reps, “but it’s part of the plan and I’m sticking to it.”

Last season’s rookie plan obviously changed abruptly on Labor Day Weekend on a seemingly simple shopping trip in San Francisco. After 11 catches in his first three games, he had only two receptions the next five, but he had the right perspective that his on-field targets were a minuscule problem to other people’s bigger issues in life.

“I just had a similar mindset: I’m on the scratch, I get to wear this logo, I get to breathe, rather than, ‘The ball is not coming my way,’ ” Pearsall said.

LENOIR, JENNINGS UPDATES

Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir is missing this week’s practices because of a hip issue that’s been bothering him most of camp, Shanahan said. Lenoir might return as early as next week. With Renardo Green (hamstring) also sidelined, the 49ers’ first-string cornerbacks Thursday were Dallis Flowers and Darrell Luter Jr.

Shanahan said there is no timetable on wide receiver Jauan Jennings’ return after June’s calf injury flared up to keep him out since Sunday’s session. Rookie running back Jordan James (knee) is being evaluated.

BARTCH JOINS COMPETITION

Ben Bartch took the majority of first-team reps at left guard in his first practice off the Non-Football Injury List. Bartch filled that role in the spring but opened camp with a quadriceps injury from doing squats in the weight room. Nick Zakelj was the starting left guard through the previous six practices, and he lined up there for one of the final team sessions Thursday. “We’re excited to watch those two go at it,” Shanahan said.

BROWN’S YEAR 3 

Ji’Ayir Brown, after battling injuries and growing pains last year, has a new tactic for his Year 3 approach. “This year I’m focused more on offenses and learning what I’m getting out of different sets,” Brown said. “I’ve spent time in the quarterbacks and receivers’ rooms to learn how they’re trying to attack us. I don’t ask too many questions. I do a lot of listening to Kyle speak, to Brock’s rebuttal, how they talk and how they try to manipulate Cover-3 and Cover-4.”

Brown is also embracing the arrival of potential starting partner Jason Pinnock as well as those of defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and assistant head coach Gus Bradley. Brown’s sophomore slump last year involved an ankle injury that required surgery this offseason. He also had to overcome nerve issues early in the 2024 offseason because of a hit he had against Travis Kelce late in the Super Bowl, having intercepted Patrick Mahomes just out of halftime.

MYKEL WILLIAMS’ HUSTLE

Mykel Williams, the 49ers’ first-round pick, burst out of the pre-practice team huddle and sprinted 100 yards to lead his fellow defensive linemen to their new warmup spot. His hustle is not all that’s impressed a week into his first camp.

Shanahan said Williams’ hands impressed the 49ers’ on the pre-draft video review and that’s transferred over to these practices. Williams missed last practice with a minor ankle issue.

TRANSACTIONS

Wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown got released amid a slew of Thursday’s transactions. The 49ers signed wide receivers Marquez Callaway and Andy Isabella, running back/returner Ameer Abdulla, and quarterback Carter Bradley, Gus’ son who impressed in Wednesday’s auditions and will compete with Tanner Mordecai for the No. 3 role. The 49ers waived offensive lineman Sebastian Gutierrez, wide receiver Malik Knowles and safety Jaylen Mahoney.

Both Abdullah and Isabella are 2015 second-round draft picks who auditioned Wednesday with five others, including former 49ers running back Jeff Wilson Jr.

VETERANS REST

Running back Christian McCaffrey, left tackle Trent Williams, and fullback Kyle Juszczyk rested after doing individual conditioning, and defensive end Nick Bosa also appeared to have a rest day.

PRACTICE HIGHLIGHTS

Purdy completed a long pass to Demarcus Robinson that sailed about 50 yards down the left sideline against Luter. “Brock, when he gets the look and it’s there, he rarely misses it. I’ve been happy with him,” Shanahan said. … Linebacker Nick Martin forced Junior Bergen to fumble a reception. … Linebackers Dee Winters and Chazz Zurratt delivered the day’s hardest hits. … Kickers Jake Moody and Greg Joseph each went 4-for-4 on field-goal attempts, their longest coming from 54 yards. … Defensive tackle C.J. West appeared to injure his lower right leg on a run stop but returned to practice.