NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
Why Shanahan is ‘proud’ of how Pearsall handled NFL debut originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SANTA CLARA — Just 50 days after Ricky Pearsall was shot in an attempted armed robbery in San Francisco, the 49ers’ first-round pick made his NFL debut in front of 71,309 fans Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.
It was a moment recognized by both teammates and the 49ers Faithful alike, who gave Pearsall a standing ovation upon his first career reception. It was a modest 6-yard completion but could have been a 90-yard touchdown, judging from the crowd reaction.
Teammates celebrated with the receiver on the field before urging the crowd to quiet down in order to continue their offensive drive. Coach Kyle Shanahan had planned to ease the receiver into the mix, but without the 49ers’ top three receivers — Brandon Aiyuk (knee), Deebo Samuel (illness) and Jauan Jennings (hip) — Pearsall was pushed into a bigger role.
“We kind of celebrated [Pearsall’s return] almost all week with him,” Shanahan said after San Francisco’s 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. “It was great to have him back, and he looked great in practice. He had to do more than we expected today, and I was proud of him for handling it. Great to have him back.”
The significance of Pearsall’s return was felt throughout the locker room. Even though his three-catch, 21-yard performance was not groundbreaking, it offered a glimpse of why the 49ers selected the Florida product No. 31 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Pearsall’s smooth route running, which looked effortless on the field, could help quarterback Brock Purdy and the 49ers’ offense get back on track after their lackluster performance Sunday.
“Ricky, having him back for his first game was awesome,” Purdy said. “Just seeing him back out there and making cuts and plays, he’s a baller too. So, we’re really excited for him and for his growth and to bring him with us.”
Pearsall’s return to the field was cathartic not only for the receiver, but…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/why-shanahan-proud-pearsall-handled-203832976.html
Author : NBC Sports BayArea
Publish date : 2024-10-21 20:38:32
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
