The San Francisco 49ers are still in a tough position when it comes to their situation at wide receiver. With so many variables and unknowns, Robbie Chosen may have taken advantage of his opportunity with a big preseason game and secured his spot on the team.
In Saturday's contest between the Niners and the Las Vegas Raiders, Chosen caught five passes for 92 yards. This included an impressive 30-yard grab late, which set San Francisco up for a field-goal opportunity to tie the game.
It may just be preseason, but with how open and in flux things are for the offense right now when it comes to the wide receivers, a big game like this may have ensured Chosen will have a spot on the 53-man roster.
The 49ers signed Chosen just a few weeks ago as they have been playing musical chairs in the wide receiver room as of late.
Coming into the game, it was clear that veterans like Chosen and Russell Gage had a golden opportunity in light of all the injuries the team has sustained at that position. Wide receiver is not the only position up for graps, as the team is banged up and injuries are piling up everywhere.
Chosen took full advantage of his opportunity and could end up seeing a fairly sizable role in San Francisco's offense to begin the season.
Brandon Aiyuk is almost certainly not going to be ready for Week 1. Jauan Jennings ostensibly has a calf injury as well as a contract dispute that makes his status for Week 1 questionable. Demarcus Robinson seems likely to be suspended for the first three games of the year. Plus, rookie Jordan Watkins will miss the start of the year with a high-ankle sprain.
It is remarkable how much carnage the 49ers have already had to deal with at wide receiver, and the season has not even started yet.
Chosen is a proven NFL wide receiver. At the age of 32, he has over 5,000 receiving yards in his career and also has 30 touchdown catches. His most prolific days may have come when he was younger, but his experience as a veteran may give him a leg up over younger wide receivers on the team because we know head coach Kyle Shanahan can get frustrated with young wideouts.
Given the complicated circumstances, Chosen's big game likely cemented his place on the 53-man roster to begin the year and may have secured a large role with San Francisco to start the season.