Deebo Samuel injury is secretly good news for these 3 fringe 49ers receivers

The 49ers will be without Deebo Samuel for a while, meaning these players buried on the depth chart may actually benefit.

Injuries are almost always a bad thing for any NFL team. However, for players who are buried on the depth chart behind injured players, it's actually a golden opportunity.

Granted, no fringe player wishes an injury to a teammate. No one on the San Francisco 49ers roster is happy wide receiver Deebo Samuel suffered a calf injury during the Niners' Week 2 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, projecting at least a two-week absence as a result.

But, Samuel's absence opens up the door for others on San Francisco's roster to fill the void.

On the surface, well-known 49ers wideouts like Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings figure to benefit the most, poised to get the lion's share of targets from quarterback Brock Purdy, and understandably so.

However, these three Niners way down the pecking order could find themselves in more prominent roles while Samuel is on the sidelines.

No. 1: Chris Conley

Veteran wide receiver Chris Conley isn't exactly a well-known name anymore at this point of his career, but San Francisco fans recall just how crucial one particular catch of his was during the playoffs last season.

Conley's rapport with Purdy is there, and the former might be the smoothest route-runner out of all the options way down on the 49ers' wide receiver depth chart.

Already boasting a catch this season for 4 yards, the 31-year-old Conley figures to be the primary go-to option to replace Samuel's spot in the starting lineup.

No. 2: Jacob Cowing

With rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall still recovering from the frightening gunshot wound suffered right before the regular season, fellow rookie Jacob Cowing emerges as the first-year pro pass catcher worth watching over the next few weeks.

Granted, Cowing had his own dreadful moment in Week 2 when he muffed a punt return, thankfully saved by Niners cornerback Isaac Yiadom to prevent further disaster. But the best way to get over that mental hurdle will be to make a positive impact in whatever other areas he can.

Known for his breakneck speed, Cowing could potentially emerge as a gadget option out of the slot, someone to help stretch the field while Aiyuk and Jennings do the primary receiving underneath.

It'd be a good way for the rookie to make an impact early.

No. 3: Ronnie Bell

For much of the preseason, second-year pro Ronnie Bell seemed as if he was playing his way off San Francisco's roster.

Plagued by drops and incorrect routes, it was something of a shock when he was named to the original 53-man group to open up the regular season. However, there's a strong likelihood he's merely a placeholder on the roster until Pearsall works his way back off the non-football injury list.

Unlike Cowing, Bell has enjoyed some modest success as a pro, logging three touchdowns on six catches his rookie season.

With his own roster spot under threat, Bell now has a chance to go on his own "redemption tour," of sorts, to prove the preseason was merely a fluke and not a sign of his capabilities to come.

Read more from Niner Noise