Why is Ricky Pearsall starting the season on the PUP list? 49ers rookie receives bad news ahead of training camp

Ricky Pearsall, a wide receiver that the San Francisco 49ers selected in the first round of the NFL draft in April with the 31st overall choice was added by the team to the non-football injury list last week.

There is now clarification regarding the 49ers' move, which at the time aroused some questions. General manager John Lynch disclosed during the first day of training camp that the rookie wideout is recovering from a hamstring injury he sustained outside of the 49ers' facilities, which is the reason he has been placed on the NFI list.

The 49ers anticipate that Pearsall will miss the first four practices of training camp as a result.

“I think we feel pretty confident that he’s in a good place," Lynch said (h/t Niners Nation). “Our thought is that he misses the first block of practices. Second block is to be determined.”

The team's training staff will decide when and whether Pearsall is ready for the "second block" of training camp. It's nearly a given that Pearsall will miss four workouts as the first block of practices ends this coming Saturday. The second block will begin on Monday after the team takes Sunday off.

After transferring from Arizona State, the 23-year-old wide receiver played collegiate football for two years as a starter for Florida. He signed a four-year contract worth $12.5 million with the 49ers shortly after the team selected him in the draft.

Pearsall amassed 2,240 yards and 14 touchdowns on 159 receptions during his five years in college. He also recorded 253 yards and five touchdowns on 21 carries.

Pearsall is projected to be the 49ers' third wide receiver behind Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, but should the organization decide to trade Aiyuk, Pearsall may take his spot.

The 49ers placed three other players on the PUP list

The Niners added three more players to the list of players who are physically unable to perform, in addition to Ricky Pearsall: S Talanoa Hufanga (knee), LB Dre Greenlaw (Achilles), and DE Drake Jackson (knee).

Given that Hufanga and Greenlaw are recovering from serious injuries from the previous season, their inclusion on the list wasn't shocking. They will continue their physical treatment until they acquire medical permission to resume their activities.

Jackson was also added to the PUP list as he continues to recover from the knee surgery he underwent last season.

Players can be taken off the PUP list at any point after they are added at the start of training camp. However, a player must miss at least the first four games of the regular season if he is placed on the list at the beginning of the season.