On Thursday, rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was seen working out on a side field, running drills as he recovers from a recently re-aggravated shoulder injury initially sustained during organized team activities (OTAs). The San Francisco 49ers are counting on their first-round draft pick to make an immediate impact, and the rookie showed promise before this latest setback.
Pearsall began training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, missing the first several practices. This latest injury is costing the young player valuable reps as he continues to adjust to the speed and complexity of the NFL.
"It's a big impact," head coach Kyle Shanahan said during Thursday's interview on Bay Area radio station KNBR. "I mean, for any player, especially rookies, and rookies that you want to play early. It takes a while to get used to this game, and the way things are done, the speed of it, just the different coverages, all those looks, and, really, our offense, too.
"But, it's nothing against Rickey. He's had some unfortunate deals coming [into training camp] with the hamstring and then hurting his shoulder here in practice. So he's doing everything he can to get back. He needs the reps, needs to practice, just like all those guys do."
The 49ers are already without wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who has reported to training camp but is sitting out practice as he awaits a new contract—or a potential trade. Pearsall's absence has opened the door for other receivers to prove themselves, but the rookie can't afford to miss much more time.
"And, Ricky, we gotta hold back from himself," Shanahan continued. "He tries to go out there regardless of how hurt he is, but we gotta make sure he doesn't come out and get re-hurt. So we're trying to get it as solid as it can, and hopefully, we'll get him in here next week."
On the other hand, rookie offensive lineman Dominick Puni, the team's third-round draft pick, has been receiving ample practice reps. Injuries along the offensive line have given him an inside track to a potential Week 1 starting job. In last weekend's preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans, Puni didn't allow a single pressure in his 25 total snaps, including 14 pass-blocking snaps.
"We had two guys go down, so he got thrown in with the ones very fast, and a lot of guys get shocked by that," Shanahan explained. "And he definitely had his moments, just like everybody does, where he was a little shocked by the penetration, just the way our D-line comes off the ball. But each day, he just adjusts and it never seemed too big for him.
"So it was so cool to get him into a game and have him play in that game, just like he's been doing in practice."
Earlier in training camp, star linebacker Fred Warner made it clear that rookie offensive lineman Dominick Puni had already caught his attention.
"Hey, you know who can move kind of good is the rookie, 77, Puni," Warner said to defensive end Nick Bosa while mic'd up during practice. "He can move good, bro. They ran bounce or toss over that way, and I'm trying to run past him, and he was hanging with me. I had to punch to get off him. He's got good size to him, he can move. Obviously, he's young, so he's only going to get stronger."
When offensive line coach and run game coordinator Chris Foerster was asked how Puni performed in his first NFL action, he responded, "Good. He's played well. He's kind of been consistent throughout, the way he started camp and has continued to work every week. He's been a pretty consistent performer. Everything we saw him do in practice, he did in the game."
With the regular season quickly approaching, the 49ers are hopeful that both Pearsall and Puni can contribute early and play at a high level.
You can listen to the entire conversation with Shanahan below.
