49ers Cut Ties With 6'2" Wide Receiver After Completing Brian Robinson Trade

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JULY 29: Head coach Kyle Shanahan (L) and General manager John Lynch (R) of the San Francisco 49ers looks on during training camp at SAP Performance Facility on July 29, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

In order for the San Francisco 49ers to make room for newly acquired running back Brian Robinson Jr., the team is releasing a wide receiver.

The Niners have waived Malik Knowles twice now. He signed a one-year contract in June with San Francisco, but was waived two months later. And he re-signed with the team on Aug. 20, played one special teams snap in the final preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers, and was waived again on Aug. 24.

Every NFL team must reduce their current 90-man rosters to 53 players by Aug. 26 at 1 p.m. EDT and the Niners currently have 12 receivers on the roster: Junior Bergen, Robbie Chosen, Jacob Cowing, Russell Gage Jr., Isaiah Hodgins, Jauan Jennings, Skyy Moore, Terique Owens, Ricky Pearsall, Demarcus Robinson, Malik Turner and Jordan Watkins.”

Malik Knowles, from K-State, Looks for a New Team

It’s unclear if Knowles will get another shot in the NFL. Out of Kansas State, he signed as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings in April 2023. He suffered a “non-football injury” and was waived in August 2024.

GettyEAGAN, MINNESOTA – JUNE 04: Jordan Addison #3 and Malik Knowles #81 of the Minnesota Vikings watch the drill during Minnesota Vikings mandatory minicamp at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center on June 04, 2024 in Eagan, Minnesota.(Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)

Then he spent 45 days on the Green Bay Packers‘ practice squad before signing with the Niners in June. His most likely path forward is signing with a team’s practice squad.

In his senior year at K-State, Knowles had 48 catches for 725 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for eight carries for 164 yards and three touchdowns.

Brian Robinson to Play Two Back Behind Christian McCaffrey

The Niners are banged up at the receiver position, leaving an opportunity for a veteran like Chosen to make the team, or an exciting nostalgia pick in Terique Owens, son of NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens. Terique Owens caught his first preseason touchdown on Aug. 23 after getting a little inspiration from dad.

But the team’s rushing attack should be formidable as ever if Christian McCaffrey hasn’t lost a step, returning from a PCL injury in his knee. The addition of Robinson, traded to the Niners from the Washington Commanders for a sixth-round pick, gives the team added depth at the running back position.

GettyASHBURN, VA – June 11: Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn talks with running back Brian Robinson Jr. (8) during day two of mini camp in Ashburn, VA on June 11, 2025. (Photo by John McDonnell/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Robinson was drafted by the Commanders in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, but his rookie debut was delayed after he was shot in the knee and glute during an armed robbery. He returned in Week 5 and soon secured the starting running back role.

But Robinson’s production hasn’t stood out as backups contributed to the running game and Jayden Daniels immediately established himself as one of the top mobile quarterbacks in the league. With Robinson due for a new deal after 2025, the Commanders chose not to pay it.

“We brought him here to be our two back,” Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan said when asked by reporters last week. “I’ve always been a big fan of Brian. Loved him coming out of college. He’s done really well going against him, and we were pumped that he was available, and we were pumped that we were able to get him.”

Drake Bentley is an award-winning investigative journalist and breaking news reporter for Heavy, covering the NFL, NBA, legal affairs, and entertainment. He’s covered the NBA Finals, NFL Draft, and major trending stories since 2019. More about Drake Bentley