Jacob Cowing performed like a starting slot receiver in 49ers preseason Week 2

Making his NFL preseason debut on Sunday night, Jacob Cowing showed he can be a roster-worthy addition with the upside of potentially starting.

Rookie wide receiver Jacob Cowing wasn't able to take the field for the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1 of the preseason, thanks to a minor injury.

But, wow. He did make an impact in the Niners' second exhibition game, a home affair versus the visiting New Orleans Saints.

Still somewhat hobbled by the injury, Cowing nevertheless demonstrated his speed when asked to take the field, hauling in four catches for a team-high 51 yards in the contest. And he managed to grab the below 38-yard pass from quarterback Josh Dobbs, too, which could have been a touchdown if Dobbs led the rookie just a little bit more:

Nevertheless, it was an impressive play.

Cowing even managed a 19-yard rushing scamper, which demonstrates his versatility and fit within head coach Kyle Shanahan's "positionless" offense, and it's that kind of prowess that could make the fourth-round draftee a valued commodity on the Niners' depth chart moving forward.

Jacob Cowing is carving himself a role on 49ers depth chart

San Francisco has its first three spots taken on its wide receiver depth chart with (hopefully) Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings laying claim. First-round rookie Ricky Pearsall, who's currently dealing with a shoulder issue, is also safe, leaving arguably two more spots up for grabs when the regular season rolls around.

Fellow receivers like Ronnie Bell, Trent Taylor and Danny Gray haven't done much to fully cement themselves as options, but Cowing certainly made the most of his opportunities.

While Shanahan has frequently used big slot receivers in the past, as is the case with Jennings, a short-and-shifty receiver like Cowing can also make an impact.

Especially with speed on his side.

Cowing might be fifth or sixth on the depth chart this season, limiting his opportunities and likely keeping him from having a substantial statistical impact in year one.

However, understanding the inevitable changes that'll impact the 49ers' wide receiver room in the next couple of years, it wouldn't be a shocker to see the rookie wind up an integral part of the offense within a year or two.

Provided he continues on the same kind of trajectory that was on display Sunday night.

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