Top draft pick Ricky Pearsall provides a significant boost to the 49ers as they begin the second week of training camp.
After experiencing a promising offseason workout program interrupted by a hamstring injury that sidelined him during the first week of training camp, San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall has now been cleared to regain that momentum.
Pearsall, the Niners’ top pick in the 2024 draft, was activated from the non-football injury list on Monday, allowing him to participate in San Francisco’s first padded practice.
The 31st overall selection from Florida had made a strong impression during OTAs and minicamp, receiving praise from both quarterback Brock Purdy and head coach Kyle Shanahan for the quick rapport he developed with Purdy.
With Brandon Aiyuk still sidelined due to his ongoing hold-in, Pearsall has the opportunity to further strengthen his connection with Purdy, as Aiyuk’s absence is likely to result in more first-team reps for Pearsall, a former teammate at Arizona State.
He will need to seize these opportunities quickly. Despite his high draft status, Pearsall is competing with Jauan Jennings for the third wide receiver position behind Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. Aiyuk is expected to play this season even without a contract extension.
Jennings, who started camp on schedule, currently holds the advantage. The 2020 seventh-round pick has earned significant trust during his time with the team, emerging as a reliable receiver in clutch situations, exemplified by his performance during February’s Super Bowl 58 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
However, Pearsall has ample time to close the gap by continuing to excel as he did during the workout program. His knack for quickly winning with his route-running makes him a natural fit for Purdy, who is known for his quick processing.
Given the 49ers’ recent history of players involved in long contract negotiations struggling in subsequent seasons, having a rookie with a skill set similar to Aiyuk’s who can hit the ground running could be especially crucial for San Francisco.
For now, the 49ers are relieved that Pearsall’s injury, which occurred while he was away from the team, isn’t costing him additional practice time with the offense and, more importantly, with his quarterback.
