It's been a frustrating two years for wide receiver Jacob Cowning, the San Francisco 49ers' fourth-round pick from the 2024 NFL Draft who has just never quite carved out a niche role despite plenty of promising attributes.
During his rookie year, the speedy Cowing was limited to just four receptions on six targets for 80 yards before injuries completely derailed his follow-up efforts in 2025, keeping him off the field entirely.
Now, entering year three, Cowing has to wonder about his future after the Niners onboarded three prominent figures at the position: Mike Evans, Christian Kirk and 2026 rookie De'Zhaun Stribling.
Paired with Cowing's draftee classmate from 2024, Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco effectively has its first four spots on the wide receiver depth chart set, and Cowing is now locked in a battle for a fifth (and potentially sixth) slot on the regular-season roster.
There might be only one way he secures such a spot: special teams.
Jacob Cowing must aim to be 49ers' primary return specialist
Cowing's absence last year opened up the door for the 49ers to deploy wide receiver Skyy Moore as their primary return man on special teams, and that shift worked out well enough. But Moore departed via free agency earlier in spring, leaving a vacancy for coordinator Brant Boyer's return job.
It's a role Cowing once held during his rookie season.
While not featured much on kick returns, Cowing nevertheless fielded 28 punts for 245 yards, averaging 8.8 yards per return. And while there were a handful of shaky moments his rookie season, the fact he's experienced in that department bodes well in his favor.
And it might give him a leg up over his immediate competition for those final spots on the depth chart; names like Jordan Watkins, Wesley Grimes, Will Pauling and veteran Demarcus Robinson are also looking to overtake Cowing.
Impressing on offense certainly will do favors for Cowing, too, but excelling in the return game could be the receiver's saving grace for a roster spot.
If the Niners have no better option for this role, Cowing might secure a job by default.
And that should be his primary goal leading up to Week 1.
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