Rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall scored his first career touchdown on Sunday, giving the 49ers a 7-0 lead over the Buccaneers.
The touchdown catch came 71 days after Pearsall was shot in a robbery attempt in San Francisco’s Union Square.
Pearsall ran a deep in-breaking route on second-and-5 from the Tampa Bay 46-yard line and hauled in a pass from Brock Purdy at the 30 between two Bucs defenders. Pearsall turned upfield and raced Antoine Winfield Jr. down the sideline, stiff-arming the Tampa Bay safety and fighting off his tackle to reach the end zone just before being hauled out of bounds.
Tight end Eric Saubert gave Pearsall a bear hug to celebrate, then wide receiver Jauan Jennings joined in on his touchdown dance.
WATCH: Pearsall’s touchdown catch to give 49ers a 7-0 lead
Ricky Pearsall goes 46 yards for his first career TD!
📺: #SFvsTB on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/R7zjs0naAm— NFL (@NFL) November 10, 2024
Pearsall was on injured reserve for the first six weeks of the season, making his regular-season debut in the 49ers’ loss three weeks ago to the Kansas City Chiefs, less than two months after he was shot.
Entering Sunday, he had nine receptions for 54 yards between that game against the Chiefs and the next week’s win over the Cowboys.
After the shooting, Pearsall spent a night in the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and was back at the 49ers’ facility within days of being released.
The 49ers drafted Pearsall No. 31 overall in April’s NFL Draft out of Florida.
