Injuries and a contract dispute leave the 49ers with more questions than answers at WR

The San Francisco 49ers don’t have a training camp battle happening at wide receiver as much as they do a scrum for roster spots that have come open for various reasons.

With injuries mounting and a contract dispute lingering, the 49ers receiving corps is a collection of players who could all conceivably have a path to the roster. The ceiling is immense, but the floor is also low enough that it could become prohibitive in the 49ers’ quest to return to the postseason.

Advertisement

Here’s a quick rundown of the position battle(s) happening among the wide receivers in camp this year for the 49ers:

Who were the 49ers starting WRs last year?

Last season was a little bit of a mess for a variety of reasons. Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk were the top two WRs on the depth chart, but an injury ended Aiyuk’s season in Week 7. After that it was Jauan Jennings stepping into a larger role as the team’s No. 1 WR alongside Samuel. Rookie Ricky Pearsall also came on late in the season after missing the first six games because of a gunshot wound he suffered the week before the regular season began.

Did the 49ers lose any key WRs?

Samuel’s exit was the major loss for the 49ers at receiver. They traded him to the Washington Commanders for a fifth-round pick in next the 2026 NFL draft. Losing Samuel creates a significant void in the playmaking realm in San Francisco’s offense. Making up for that loss will be one of the biggest jobs for head coach Kyle Shanahan this season. Veteran Chris Conley also retired, but his role was more limited and easily replaceable.

Advertisement

Do the 49ers have any injuries at WR?

They sure do! Aiyuk is still recovering from ACL and MCL tears, as well as additional damage in his knee after taking a hit there against the Kansas City Chiefs. NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco reported Aiyuk could be ready by Week 1, but the team isn’t likely to rush him back into action. Pearsall is also dealing with an injury. He hurt his hamstring in OTAs and was supposed to be ready for camp. It was a small surprise when Pearsall was one of six 49ers who will start the season on the PUP list.

Who are San Francisco’s starting WRs?

With Pearsall and Aiyuk on the sideline to start camp, signs point to Jennings and veteran free agent addition Demarcus Robinson getting the top two WR spots out of the gate. Second-year fourth-round pick Jacob Cowing and rookie fourth-round pick Jordan Watkins are also names to watch as potential starters.

Advertisement

Which WRs are frontrunners for roster spots?

Here’s an initial prediction for the 49ers receiving corps once rosters are trimmed to 53 players: Jennings, Pearsall, Robinson, Cowing and Watkins. Aiyuk is probably going to start the season on the PUP list. If the 49ers keep a sixth, that spot will be up for grabs with a ton of players in the mix.

Which WRs are on the 49ers’ roster bubble?

There are a couple of interesting names to keep an eye on when it comes to roster spots in the back of the receiving corps. Rookie seventh-round pick Junior Bergen can flat out go on punt returns and that may be enough to earn him a roster spot. Veterans like Russell Gage and Isaiah Hodgins may benefit from their NFL experience if Shanahan wants a player he knows he can trust as a peripheral pass-catching option. Undrafted rookie Isaiah Neyor has all the physical tools to make a splash in the preseason as well.

Advertisement

More 49ers: 49ers work out 7 players, including 6 WRs and 1 QB after injuries and contract dispute

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers roster: Training camp battles brewing up and down WR corps

Related Posts

🚨 BOMBSHELL LOCKER ROOM ERUPTION: A Chiefs defensive titan just broke his silence to shield a fallen legend as the league spirals into outrage, with emotions boiling over and a legacy suddenly dragged into a storm no one saw coming..ll 👇👇👇

Kansas City, Missouri — The city synonymous with football excellence has once again found itself under the national spotlight, as an unexpected controversy involving Hall of Famer…

🚨 EXCLUSIVE CHIEFS MIDNIGHT GAMBLE: An unknown weapon just slipped into the roster and insiders are whispering this could flip the entire backfield overnight, with a lightning-quick runner suddenly crashing the party after the draft dust barely settled..ll 👇👇👇

Getty The Kansas City Chiefs are signing undrafted running back Terion Stewart out of Virginia Tech. The Kansas City Chiefs have certainly prioritized the running back position…

GREAT MOVE: Steelers Successfully Complete Trade for Superstar Edge NFC Defensive Player of the Year with Giants by Giving Up Young Talent Arvelle Reese – A “Steal” Move According to NFL Analysts – Per Adam Schefter…

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – Pittsburgh Steelers made a bold and strategic move in the NFL Draft 2026, successfully completing a trade with the New York Giants to acquire superstar edge rusher, who was recently…

Juѕt 3 Hourѕ After Owner Sheіlа Ford Hаmр Fаced A Record NFL Penаlty, Governor Gretchen Whіtmer Demаnded Thаt The Lіonѕ “Sell Cheар” The $120 Mіllіon Meіjer Trаіnіng Center Under The Nаme “Stаte Aѕѕet” – The Truth Behіnd The Teаm Beіng “Held Bаck” In Detroіt Left The NFL Communіty Furіouѕ

Detroіt, Mіchіgаn – Juѕt 3 hourѕ аfter owner ѕheіlа Ford Hаmр wаѕ hіt wіth а record NFL рenаlty tіed to the Meіjer Trаіnіng Center рroject, the Detroіt…

🚨COWBOYS QB TAKES A STAND: The Dаllаѕ Cowboyѕ juѕt ѕаw а mаjor ѕhow of loyаlty аѕ Dаk Preѕcott ѕteрѕ uр to defend Hаll of Fаmer Troy Aіkmаn аmіd іntenѕe bаcklаѕh ѕhаkіng the NFL. Whаt ѕtаrted аѕ outѕіde crіtіcіѕm іѕ now turnіng іnto а рowerful locker-room ѕtаtement, wіth іnѕіderѕ hіntіng thіѕ moment could eіther unіfy the frаnchіѕe аround іtѕ legаcy…or іgnіte even more debаte аcroѕѕ the leаgue.

аrlіngton, Texаѕ The Dаllаѕ Cowboyѕ hаve been no ѕtrаngerѕ to heаdlіneѕ durіng thіѕ іntenѕіve 2026 ѕeаѕon, but thіѕ week’ѕ controverѕy аrrіved not from а gаme-breаkіng рlаy on…

🚨DOLPHINS PULL OFF A HEIST: The Miami Dolphins may have just robbed the board at No. 138, landing Kyle Louis a staggering 52 spots below his projected value—insiders are already calling it one of the sneakiest steals of the entire draft. What looked like a routine mid-round pick is now turning heads fast, with whispers that Miami might’ve quietly added a difference-maker while everyone else blinked.

The Miami Dolphiпs eпtered the foυrth roυпd oп Day 3 of the NFL Draft with a pair of selectioпs (Nos. 130 aпd 138).&пbsp;After optiпg for Texas EDGE…