Latest news with #San Francisco 49ers
Yahoo
06-08-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
NFL bans smelling salts, George Kittle 'considered retirement'
The NFL continues to adjust rules to try and improve player safety and increase both fairness and competitiveness. However, a new rule the league created almost sent an NFC West rival of the Arizona Cardinals out of the league. Star San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle thought about walking away from the league with the new rule that bans players from using ammonia packets and smelling salts during games, on the sideline or in the locker room. "I considered retirement," Kittle said. "We have to figure out a middle ground.' NFL ban on smelling salts: The reason why The league believes that smelling salts and ammonia packets can mask concussion symptoms. Per the league in a memo: "In 2024, the FDA issued a warning to companies that produce commercially available ammonia inhalants (AIs), as well as to consumers about the purchase and use of AIs, regarding the lack of evidence supporting the safety or efficacy of AIs marketed for improving mental alertness or boosting energy," the memo stated. "The FDA noted potential negative effects from AI use. AIs also have the potential to mask certain neurologic signs and symptoms, including some potential signs of concussion. As a result, the NFL Head, Neck, and Spine Committee recommended prohibiting the use of AIs for any purpose during play in the NFL." Because the league is serious about not allowing players to continue playing when they show consussion symptoms, the possibility of masking symptoms goes against that goal. However, players have been using them for years. Whether they truly increase awareness and energy or simply give players a placebo-like jolt, players believe in them. However, without them, there will be no more jokes like what Larry Fitzgerald did to reporter Pam Oliver. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts. This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: This rule change made George Kittle consider retiring
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
NFL bans smelling salts, saying product can mask concussion symptoms
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The NFL is banning the use of 'smelling salts' during games, saying the products aren't proven to be safe and also could mask signs of a concussion. The league sent a memo to teams on Tuesday explaining the decision to ban smelling salts and any other ammonia inhalant during pregame activities, games and halftime on the sideline or locker rooms. 'In 2024, the FDA issued a warning to companies that produce commercially available ammonia inhalants (AIs), as well as to consumers about the purchase and use of AIs, regarding the lack of evidence supporting the safety or efficacy of AIs marketed for improving mental alertness or boosting energy,' according to the memo obtained by The Associated Press. 'The FDA noted potential negative effects from AI use. AIs also have the potential to mask certain neurologic signs and symptoms, including some potential signs of concussion. As a result, the NFL Head, Neck, and Spine Committee recommended prohibiting the use of AIs for any purpose during play in the NFL.' San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle first disclosed the ban during an interview with NFL Network on Tuesday, adding that he hoped the league would relent and "figure out a middle ground.' That won't happen, according to the memo, which explicitly prohibits any club personnel from providing or supplying products such as ammonia capsules, inhalers, ammonia in a cup, and any form of 'smelling salts.' Smelling salts and other similar products have been a staple on NFL sidelines for years with many players believing they can provide a sudden jolt of energy or alertness. ___ AP NFL: Josh Dubow, The Associated Press
Associated Press
02-08-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Ricky Pearsall's journey from gunshot wound to 49ers' key receiver
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Ricky Pearsall's rookie season for the San Francisco 49ers never really got off the ground. Nagging injuries kept him out of almost all of training camp and then he was shot in the chest during a robbery attempt by a 17-year-old in San Francisco about a week before the start of the season Pearsall survived the shooting and made it back on the field for the final 11 games, but wasn't able to truly show why he was picked in the first round by the Niners. 'I just felt like I was behind the eight ball,' Pearsall said. 'I like to say that I rolled out of bed and started running routes because I damn near did. You can't really rehab a gunshot wound. So I basically rolled out of bed and started running routes in Week 7. ... From that Week 7 and on, that was my training camp. Those practices in between, before the games, that was my training camp, for me.' Pearsall made an immediate impact after getting back on the field and had a 46-yard TD catch in a Week 9 win at Tampa Bay. He then caught only two passes over the next five games as he struggled to become a consistent part of the offense. Pearsall thought he was still getting open during that stretch yet just didn't get the ball that way, but it isn't so simple in San Francisco's complex offense based so heavily on timing. Sometimes he would make an extra move to get off press coverage at the line or take an extra step to open down the field, but it was too late for quarterback Brock Purdy. 'We had a couple of those moments and there were times where he took it a little deeper and then broke open.' Purdy said. 'He was like, 'dude I was open.' I said in the timing of the play, I needed it quicker. So, we had moments like that, and that's part of getting to the NFL. ... I think toward the end of the last season, you saw Ricky come out his shell, he was playing within our system and timing.' That was evident in the final two games when Pearsall had 14 catches for 210 yards and two TDs in a confidence-building finish to an otherwise difficult rookie season. Pearsall's late-season surge provided a rare bright spot at the end of a disappointing six-win season for the 49ers. His role is much more important in 2025 with Deebo Samuel having been traded to Washington in the offseason and Brandon Aiyuk expected to miss the start of the season recovering from knee surgery. San Francisco has few proven options at receiver with free agent acquisition Demarcus Robinson facing a possible suspension for a DUI arrest. Last year's leading wideout Jauan Jennings' status also is unknown as he is currently sidelined by a calf injury. Pearsall has carried over that performance to training camp where he has been San Francisco's best receiver since he returned from a hamstring injury. 'To be honest, I'm approaching it the same exact way,' Pearsall said. 'Whether those guys are in the room or not, that's just how I look at myself. I just got to be able to step in that role. That's just how I look at it. I look at myself as being able to be a guy that goes out there and makes plays. Whether they're there or not, that's how I look at myself.' The aftermath of the shooting is something that Pearsall is still dealing with 11 months later even if physically he is healthy once again. He has expressed an interest in talking to the 17-year-old charged in his shooting, but is focused first on getting himself right. 'Unfortunately, I revisit that every single night I go to bed,' he said. 'I kind of just carry that with me. Now it's not as much as avoiding it and whether or revisiting it or not revisiting it. It's more about how I deal with it and the light I put on it. It's more a positive light and things I can get out of that, to try to inspire other people. As far as my own personal stuff, I've been doing a better job dealing with it, myself.' ___ AP NFL:
Washington Post
28-07-2025
- Health
- Washington Post
After a down year, Commanders' Deebo Samuel still has ‘a lot in the tank'
One night last October, Deebo Samuel woke up at 2 or 3 a.m. unable to stop coughing. He didn't know what was wrong, but he had a game to play. He figured an oxygen mask and an IV would restore him. He received the treatment in the San Francisco 49ers training room, headed out for warmups and realized he may not be fine. 'I just couldn't breathe,' Samuel said. 'I couldn't move.'
CBS News
22-07-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
49ers sign Equanimeous St. Brown to 1-year deal to bolster wide receiver corps
The San Francisco 49ers moved to shore up their wide receiver corps at the start of training camp by signing Equanimeous St. Brown, brother of Detroit Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. The team announced Tuesday that St. Brown had been signed to a one-year deal; contract terms were not available. The eight-year veteran signed with the New Orleans Saints last year on a one-year, $1.25 million deal but spent most of the 2024 season on the practice squad. The 28-year-old native of Placentia, California, was originally drafted by Green Bay in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame. St. Brown spent four seasons with the Packers and also played two seasons with the Chicago Bears. A 28-year-old native of Placentia, CA, St. Brown attended the University of Notre Dame for three seasons (2015-17) where he appeared in 32 games (25 starts) and registered 92 receptions for 1,484 yards (16.1 average) and 13 touchdowns. Injuries, departures, and contract issues among wide receivers have led to uncertainty over how the 49ers will fill the gaps heading into the start of training camp practices on Wednesday. Aside from the departure of free agent veteran Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders, top wideout Brandon Aiyuk and second-year receiver Ricky Pearsall are both starting the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list. In addition, fifth-year wide receiver Jauan Jennings is reportedly seeking either a new contract or a trade, although general manager John Lynch told reporters Tuesday Jennings was in camp and has not formally asked for a trade. "You guys know our feelings on J.J. He embodies what, you know, what we think a Niner's all about," said Lynch. "We're not going to get into the contract talks and all that. That takes care of itself, but you know, we love him and he's here." While Aiyuk is expected not to be ready at the start of the regular season, Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated Pearsall is likely to miss just a few practices after injuring his hamstring during offseason workouts in May. "He is fine. We just haven't seen him the last two weeks," said Shanahan. "We're not going to throw a wide-out out there the first three days. We don't want to pull it again until we see his conditioning and everything, which we should get in three days, and then he should be good." In addition, wide receiver Demarcus Robinson, who signed a two-year, $95 million contract in March, is facing a possible three-game suspension after pleading no contest earlier this month to a misdemeanor DUI charge from November while a member of the Los Angeles Rams.
