49ers vs. Texans: 5 bubble players to watch in preseason finale

49ers player to watch vs. Texans No. 2: Wide receiver Malik Turner

Kyle Shanahan has plenty of reasons not to keep six wide receivers on his 53-man roster.

Rarely has he done so before, and the potential need to retain five running backs, extra defensive backs or even a fourth tight end could negate the need for a sixth wideout.

However, veteran receiver Malik Turner could ultimately convince the head coach otherwise.

Turner has been a bright spot for the Niners offense all offseason, impressing from organized team activities all the way through Week 2 of the preseason against the Vikings, notably his forced fumble on a Minnesota punt-return attempt that San Francisco recovered.

Now, there might not be room for Turner to impact the offense much. After all, the 49ers already boast a wide receiver room consisting of Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Ray-Ray McCloud and Danny Gray, and Turner fitting in there would solely be for his own special teams prowess and to help guard against injuries.

Yet those attributes matter.

Turner is in a position where he can convince Shanahan that a sixth wide receiver on the 53-man roster isn’t just a good idea but also mandatory.

A strong outing against the Texans will prompt that.