SF 49ers roster cuts: 5 key takeaways making 53-man roster
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: 49ers wide receiver depth panned out the way many expected
For much of training camp, San Francisco’s wide receivers seemed to be a complete wild card heading towards Week 1.
This, primarily due to injury, as the 49ers temporarily lost wideouts Deebo Samuel (foot), Richie James (wrist) and Brandon Aiyuk (hamstring) to various injuries. And all three were relative question marks regarding their availability for the regular season.
Additionally, the Niners also lost receivers Tavon Austin (knee), Jalen Hurd (ACL) and J.J. Nelson (knee) to injured reserve, putting more question marks on the depth and seemingly making the competition for five or six spots on the regular-season roster wide open.
But Aiyuk is expected back. So is James and Samuel, who are going to be activated from their respective injury lists in time for Week 1.
I’m hearing WR Deebo Samuel will be activated off the non-football injury list for a spot on the #49ers’ 53-man roster. That makes him eligible to play in Week 1 vs. the #AZCardinals.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) September 5, 2020
This allowed San Francisco to move on from Jauan Jennings, who increasingly became a longer shot to make the 53-man roster as camp moved along.
As such, it looks as if the wide receiver depth chart will be this:
- Deebo Samuel
- Brandon Aiyuk
- Trent Taylor
- Kendrick Bourne
- Trent Taylor
- Dante Pettis
Not too different than what many other offseason projections had, especially with Pettis’ resurgence in camp.