When the San Francisco 49ers signed veteran wide receiver Christian Kirk way back in March, they weren't aware they'd use their top pick in the following month's NFL Draft on rookie wideout De'Zhaun Stribling. They also didn't know third-year pro Ricky Pearsall would miss all of 2026 with PCL surgery, nor were they aware they'd reunite with a fan-favorite in Deebo Samuel.
With Mike Evans atop the depth chart, beefed up by both Samuel and Stribling, then supplemented by Demarcus Robinson and a seemingly resurgent Jordan Watkins, Kirk seems quite expendable.
Especially when looking at his one-year, $3 million contract.
Couple that with the fact Kirk hasn't practiced since the opening day of training camp last month—a calf strain has kept him sidelined, and the injury was nagging him during organized team activities, too.
So, it seems to be a foregone conclusion. Kirk is an excess, and the Niners should simply cut bait now and save the roster spot for someone else.
That's what our good friend Jose Sanchez of Sports Illustrated argued, and it does hold merit, although let's respectfully disagree.
There's another option that's smarter.
49ers should stash Christian Kirk on PUP list to start 2026
$2.78 million of Kirk's $3 million is guaranteed, and while San Francisco can afford that dead-cap hit if it parts ways with the receiver, Kirk is effectively already paid for his services this season regardless if he hangs on the roster or not.
The back end of the 49ers' receiving depth chart is pretty crowded with names like Robinson, Watkins, Jacob Cowing, Will Pauling, among others, trying to claim a role.
But the Niners don't have to consider Kirk a part of that competition. At least not right now.
The 29-year-old Kirk currently isn't on an injury list at the moment, but San Francisco can place him on the physically unable-to-perform list at any point. Now, if he stays there at the time when the opening 53-man roster for Week 1 is announced, Kirk would have to miss the first four weeks.
And that's just fine. This wouldn't cost a coveted roster spot or be associated with the risk of cutting a player, hoping he clears waivers and is subsequently re-signed.
One can think of Kirk as a midseason reinforcement, if needed. With both Evans and Samuel no strangers to soft-tissue injuries in their respective careers, there's a modest chance the 49ers will lose at least one of those two for periods of time this season.
If there isn't a need, there wouldn't be a push to activate Kirk onto the regular-season roster.
The 49ers have effectively paid for this already, meaning they can retain him in that capacity unless he's further needed.
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