WATCH: 49ers rookie makes sweet catch to convert 3rd down vs. Lions

Ricky Pearsall is finding his way in the NFL.

What a first quarter for 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall on Monday night.

San Francisco’s 2024 first-round pick has been more involved in the offense the last couple weeks. He earned a pair of targets in the first quarter against the Detroit Lions in Week 17.

The first one was a three-yard touchdown grab in the front corner of the end zone that put the 49ers ahead 7-0. That capped an 11-play, 61-yard opening drive for San Francisco.

The second one came on their second drive of the evening on a third-and-4.

Thanks to some heavy pressure from Detroit, quarterback Brock Purdy had to uncork his throw a little early and left his toss to Pearsall on a deep out a little bit high. That didn’t matter for the sure-handed rookie out of the University of Florida:

Pearsall had a difficult start to his rookie year after missing a ton of training camp because of hamstring and shoulder injuries. Then he suffered a gunshot wound the weekend before the regular season started. He’s starting to gain his footing in the 49ers’ offense though, and it’s hard not to be optimistic about his future when he’s making these kinds of catches.

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