49ers' 2023 preseason is over, these players are on the roster bubble (and these players are safe)
By Peter Panacy
![San Francisco 49ers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) San Francisco 49ers quarterback Sam Darnold (14)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4609,h_2592,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/42/01h8v8h7m67bn0fkxenf.jpg)
49ers wide receiver
Lock: Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Deebo Samuel
Strong bubble: Ronnie Bell*, Chris Conley, Willie Snead
Weak bubble: Tay Martin, Isaiah Winstead*
Long shot: Danny Gray, Ray-Ray McCloud, Anthony Miller
Injuries have made the Niners' wide receiver battle awfully intriguing in the wake of the preseason finale last Friday.
Danny Gray and Ray-Ray McCloud are both going to miss substantial regular-season time to open up the year because of injuries, meaning they won't make the original 53-man roster, which more or less opens up two "locks" that'll be up for grabs behind the big three of Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings.
And, after such an impressive preseason, how could Kyle Shanahan keep rookie Ronnie Bell off the 53-man roster? Particularly with Bell doing a quality job in the return game, too.
With four spots accounted four, perhaps it winds up being the veteran, Chris Conley, edging out his competition for that fifth spot, assuming Shanahan keeps only that many.