SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Having an up-to-date roster is a daily requirement at San Francisco 49ers practice, with all the receivers coming and going through the swivel doors from the practice field to the trainer’s room.
Wait, who was that, gliding down the field and catching a pass from Brock Purdy on Thursday? An undrafted rookie? Some random vet looking for another shot at glory?
Turns out it’s both, if you listen to Robbie Chosen, formerly Robby Anderson and Robbie Anderson. He once went undrafted despite running a 4.36 40-yard dash in 2016. Now, 380 NFL catches later, Chosen is a born-again rookie, and he can still go.
“He’s a true burner,” receiver Ricky Pearsall said after practice Thursday. “He still has speed to this day.”
Chosen, 32, has a chance to crack the 49ers’ 53-man roster, thanks to a depleted receiver room, a new mindset and having a long-lost fan in 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan. The last wide receiver spot is one of roughly seven position battles on the docket for Saturday night’s preseason finale against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Chosen never considered retirement last year when the Miami Dolphins let him go after he had one catch for 5 yards in two games. He spent two weeks at training camp with the 49ers before that, but both Chosen and Shanahan say the 10th-year vet is much better this time around.
Robbie Chosen into the red zone!
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“Just the new mindset and just all the preparation I put in,” Chosen said. “Last year, being on the outside looking in, it made me get hungrier. I’ve never been in a situation like that, so it made me create new dreams and see things from a new perspective.
“I look at it like I’m undrafted again, but I have the veteran experience and mindset.”
Chosen said he loved the game of football too much to walk away last year, “so I just had to be patient.”
He had five catches for 92 yards in last week’s preseason game against the Raiders, and he was working with the first team Thursday because of injuries to Brandon Aiyuk (knee), Jauan Jennings (calf), Jacob Cowing (hamstring), Jordan Watkins (ankle) and Russell Gage (knee).
Depending on who is back for the opener, Chosen would have to beat out at least Skyy Moore, who was acquired from the Chiefs on Wednesday, and seventh-round draft pick Junior Bergen for a roster spot.
“He’s put some good things on tape over his career,” Shanahan said. “I think he’s in better shape than he was last time he came. I think he’s got a better understanding of the playbook than last time, and I think he’s got a better opportunity.”
Chosen said the 49ers tried to trade for him in 2019, then tried to sign him the next offseason when he became a free agent. But he chose the Carolina Panthers, where he put up a career-best 95 catches for 1,096 yards.
“I’ve always been a fan of coach Shanahan and what they do here,” Chosen said. “My biggest goal of playing football in the NFL has been to be a champion. And I feel like I’m in a great place to pursue that.
“Just being in an environment with so many guys that are the best at their position. They say you are the company you keep, and that’s the company I’m trying to be in.”
Pearsall said Chosen has been passing on a lot of “words of wisdom” to the younger receivers.
“He’s been there, he’s done it,” Pearsall said.
And he hopes to be Chosen to do it again when the cutdown deadline arrives on Tuesday.
Other positions to watch
Right guard
We’re assuming left guard Ben Bartch (elbow) will return to practice soon. The bigger concern is at right guard, where Dominick Puni (knee) is iffy for Week 1 in Seattle. Since Puni suffered his injury, rising seventh-round rookie Connor Colby has been lining up at right guard with the first-team unit, while Nick Zakelj has been on the left. The 49ers know what they have in Zakelj, a 2022 draft pick. They want to see more of Colby to determine whether he could start his first NFL game in one of the league’s loudest venues at Seattle.
Safety
Jason Pinnock (heel) began easing back into practice this week. He seems to have a good grip on one of the starting roles. The other boils down to incumbent Ji’Ayir Brown or fifth-round rookie Marques Sigle. Brown is the safer choice given that he’s played in 32 games (18 starts) over the past two seasons. Sigle, however, is more exciting. He’s the fastest member of the secondary and so far has been a strong tackler, including an open-field stop Saturday on running back Raheem Mostert. Will another good outing put the rookie into the starting lineup?
Strongside linebacker
The 49ers’ first two linebacker spots will go to Fred Warner and Dee Winters. As of now, free-agent addition Luke Gifford has been the first choice at strongside linebacker and has looked good in that role. But can he hold off rookie Nick Martin, a third-round pick who made a big leap between the first and second preseason games? The 49ers will face the run-heavy Seahawks in Week 1, so the choice at strongside linebacker is a big one.
Fifth defensive tackle
Who makes the initial 53-man squad: last year’s standout undrafted defensive tackle, Evan Anderson, or this year’s standout undrafted rookie, Sebastian Valdez? Veterans Jordan Elliott and Kalia Davis, as well as rookies CJ West and Alfred Collins, seem like shoe-ins for roster spots. The 49ers would love to be able to keep Valdez or Anderson on the practice squad, but exposing them to waivers might mean another team snaps them up.
No. 5 cornerback
The first four spots seem like they’ll go to Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green, Upton Stout and Dallis Flowers. The fifth? It’s a battle between preseason star Chase Lucas and undrafted Jakob Robinson, who’s been consistently sticky in coverage in training camp. The 49ers have been using Lucas, heretofore a nickel cornerback, on the outside this week and Robinson, mainly an outside cornerback, on the inside. That’s where they’ll likely play in Saturday’s finale as well.
No. 3 quarterback
The 49ers are intrigued by Carter Bradley’s live arm, but there’s been too much arm in recent practices, with several deep balls and crossing-route throws going well beyond the target. Nate Sudfeld is not nearly as flashy, but he is the safer option. Either way, the team’s No. 3 passer this season will likely land on the practice squad.
No. 3 tight end
The competition is too close to call between Brayden Willis and Jake Tonges, who had a nice outing in Las Vegas. Both are versatile, move well and are reliable receivers. The 49ers could make this question moot and keep four tight ends: George Kittle, Luke Farrell, Tonges and Willis. Last year, however, they entered the season with three: Kittle, Tonges and Eric Saubert.
(Photo of Robbie Chosen: Ian Maule / Getty Images)
