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