San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed astonishment at rookie Ricky Pearsall's recovery, just days after the team disclosed that the player was shot in the chest during a robbery attempt.

"He's the toughest individual I know, navigating through such a harrowing experience," Shanahan remarked to reporters on Thursday, publicly addressing the incident for the first time. "We always had this feeling watching him on the football field and similar situations, but witnessing how he handled this situation and his resilience ever since, it underscores his extraordinary character."

Pearsall, 23, was spotted at practice on Thursday, standing on the field in casual attire, holding a football and observing the wide receiver drills, as the team prepared for Monday night's season opener against the New York Jets.

The athlete "sustained a bullet wound to his chest" during a robbery attempt on Saturday in San Francisco's Union Square, the San Francisco 49ers confirmed in a statement. He was discharged from the hospital on Sunday and is projected to make a complete recovery.

On Monday, the National Football League placed the player on the reserve/non-football injury list, indicating he will be sidelined for at least four games of the season, as reported by ESPN .

Shanahan stated that the team has been prioritizing providing Pearsall with the space he needs to physically and mentally heal from the ordeal, despite his eagerness to return to the game.

"I believe that the mental aspect becomes more and more important each day, you know, managing the adrenaline and just surviving that," the coach said. "Ricky's saying things ... like, I still think I could play against the Jets."

"It's like, man, what are you talking about?" Shanahan continued.

Regarding the recovery, Shanahan mentioned Pearsall "wants to go for about a week without exerting himself" and then will begin rehabilitation.

A 17-year-old suspect apprehended in connection with the shooting was charged Tuesday with attempted murder, assault with a semi-automatic firearm, and attempted second-degree robbery, prosecutors said.

The teenager, whose identity has not been disclosed, was arraigned at the Youth Guidance Center in San Francisco on Wednesday. After the court appearance, his lawyer told reporters the teen -- a senior at Tracy High School -- is "truly sorry that this occurred, as is his family."

"I can speak on their behalf, and also on my own behalf, that our thoughts are with the Pearsall family and Mr. Pearsall himself," the attorney, Deputy Public Defender Bob Dunlap, said. "There is genuine, genuine regret in this matter."

The teenager is in custody and will be held until his trial date.

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins told reporters on Tuesday that her office has not yet decided whether to request a hearing before a judge to determine if the teenager will be tried as an adult.

Dunlap said he hopes the case will not be transferred to adult court, stating that his client "should definitely be treated as a juvenile. He is a juvenile."