49ers training camp: Predicting wide receiver depth chart after a week

Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) /
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Dante Pettis, 49ers
Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) /

49ers depth chart: Active roster reserves

With those players not making the cut, the question how many receivers San Francisco keeps is essentially established.

Typically, teams keep no more than six wideouts on a 53-man roster, and even five is pretty common. Depth wide receivers must have some special teams abilities, too, so that factors into the question.

In this case, the 49ers would retain six receivers in total, and three of those would be listed as reserves behind a traditional WR1, WR2, slot makeup on the roster:

  1. Dante Pettis
  2. Jauan Jennings
  3. Deebo Samuel

Kyle Shanahan might not want to put Samuel on the PUP list to start the year, as that would keep the second-year pro from playing until Week 7. Instead, look for Samuel to be inactive for at least a week or two to start the year but still find his placement on the 53-man roster while he gets back up to speed.

Earlier this offseason, there was understandable question marks whether or not Pettis could make the roster after an abysmal 2019 campaign in which the 2018 second-round draft pick found himself inactive for Super Bowl LIV.

Yet Pettis has turned things around as of late in training camp, and the following report from NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco is awfully encouraging for Pettis’ chances:

Jennings, meanwhile, gives Shanahan a tough, physical presence and big-bodied option out of the slot. He should be safe, too.