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.

Along with the Super Bowl rematch, Sunday also marked the NFL debut of 49ers first-round pick Ricky Pearsall. Prior to the start of the season, Pearsall suffered a gunshot wound to the chest in an attempted robbery. After missing the first six weeks of his ...