It wasn't long ago that San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Demarcus Robinson was thought to be an easy cut candidate leading up to the regular season. The veteran commanded more of the team's payroll than other pass catchers buried on the depth chart, and he did little last season to justify a place on the roster.
Lately, however, he has worked hard to change that narrative, and it appears it is working.
ESPN's Nick Wagoner noted such efforts in his observations of Tuesday's practice:
Veteran WR Demarcus Robinson also had another big day, catching a couple of touchdowns from Purdy and continuing to make the case to be a valuable backup at multiple spots.
The praise for the veteran didn't stop there. In fact, his own quarterback touted his excellence by calling him "one of the best wide receivers [he's] played with," specifically referring to his ability to win one-on-one and his feel for the game.
Demarcus Robinson forcing 49ers to make crucial decision
Just a few weeks ago, Robinson's contract looked expendable. It's nott uncommon for teams to release many of their older veterans just before the start of the regular season, as veterans who are retained past training camp are owed their entire salary.
Now, the nine-year veteran is making himself nearly expendable before the 49ers are faced with making their own cuts. Given the fact that they have already lost Ricky Pearsall to season-ending surgery, and Mike Evans, De'Zhaun Stribling, and Christian Kirk have already popped up on the injured list, Robinson feels more like a necessary piece than ever. He currently slots behind the aforementioned receivers and newly acquired Deebo Samuel on the depth chart. Past that, it's a bit of a mess.
Second-year Jordan Watkins hasn't made the decision any easier. After getting selected in the fourth round in 2025, he looked like a solid potential depth piece who could slot in for injured stars when necessary. His own slew of injuries last season, though, combined with his early-camp struggles, have made Robinson that much more enticing.
Thankfully, Mike Evans recently returned to practice, and Stribling only missed a handful of days. Neither injury ever appeared serious, but Evans is 33 years old. Deebo himself is 30, and both are clearly past their primes. It's likely the 49ers have fully come out the other side of the injury storm, and Robinson looks to be a valuable piece of the puzzle when factoring in the age and health of those around him. The fact that Brock Purdy thinks so highly of him is just icing on the cake.
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