‘It meant everything’: Ricky Pearsall makes NFL debut exactly 50 days after being shot

SANTA CLARA — Ricky Pearsall’s first thought after being shot in the chest on Aug. 31 was obvious.

Would I live? 

Once doctors determined that, yes, Pearsall would survive, he shifted his attention to the next logical line of questioning.

Would I be able to play football again?

“That was a common question coming out of my mouth when I was in the hospital bed,” Pearsall said with a sly smile postgame.