The San Francisco 49ers have had a bit of a rollercoaster in the preseason so far. Going from a 30-9 blowout against the Denver Broncos to the down-to-the-wire 22-19 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, the Niners are 1-1 with the last of their three preseason games on Saturday against the Los Angeles Chargers.
One of the positions with quite a few bodies vying for reps is at wide receiver. Brandon Aiyuk remains out recovering from ACL surgery, and Jauan Jennings is dealing with both a calf injury and extension demands as he is seeking a new deal.
The Niners have seen two players take reps this month who are much younger than Aiyuk and Jennings: Ricky Pearsall and Jordan Watkins, both recent NFL Draft picks by San Francisco. Jacob Cowing was another receiver selected in the 2024 draft, too.
Considering the 49ers' offseason efforts to get both younger and cheaper, it's important to acknowledge those recent draft investments.
What could possibly get in the way of 49ers' young WRs developing?
Having a team-high of five receptions and 92 yards sounds great, but not if you are a player who is in his 30s and toward the bottom of the depth chart. Furthermore, that stat was in an exhibition game and not a playoff bout or high-profile showdown against a division rival.
Wide receiver Robbie Chosen is 32 years old and already played 10 seasons in the NFL, joining the Niners late in the offseason after a myriad of injuries at the position. Pearsall, Cowing, and Watkins are all under the age of 25.
The well-traveled receiver has as many receptions this preseason as Pearsall and Watkins combined. Chosen has an average of 15.5 yards per catch, mostly due to a 30-yard reception against the Raiders.
Pearsall is averaging 14 yards per catch, and Watkins is averaging 18.7 yards every reception. Cowing has yet to take the field in either preseason game for San Francisco. The second-year receiver has also been nursing a hamstring injury.
That young trio should be the focus of the passing offense for the 49ers regardless of the quarterback on Saturday versus Los Angeles. Heading into Week 1, it's more important for the wideouts who are under contract beyond this season to develop and grow instead of a player who is trying to make his fifth team since 2016.
Veteran Demarcus Robinson is likely to miss only the first few games of the this year on suspension for a 2024 DUI, while Aiyuk is expected back mid-season. Should Jennings come back to the 49ers a happy man, that's three receivers still ahead of the three young pass catchers and the 10-year vet.
Thus, if the Ninerskeep Chosen on the 53-man roster heading into Week 1, it will hurt San Francisco's younger receivers looking to make a name for themselves.