One of the biggest disappointments for the San Francisco 49ers in training camp has undoubtedly been veteran wide receiver Christian Kirk. He’s yet to really practice at all due to an injury, and an undrafted rookie might just take his place on the roster.
Kirk is dealing with a calf strain and has not been a participant in the team’s practices since halfway through day one. As he works to get back, Will Pauling has been impressing people, even though he was a major long shot to make the team when camp began.
The University of Notre Dame product went undrafted, probably due to his size. He clocks in at 5-foot-9 and 183 pounds, but if the guy can play, then size is just a number. Kirk himself is a bit undersized, so Pauling could fill the smaller slot receiver role on the team.
Last season at Notre Dame, Pauling had 26 receptions for 381 yards and six touchdowns. He’s very quick and can also handle punt return duties, which could make him an enticing addition to the 53-man roster.
Beat writer Matt Maiocco has already predicted that Pauling will make the team over Kirk. That’s how much he’s impressed so far, but it’s easy to let recency bias take hold and forget the fact that Kirk is the more experienced pass catcher.
Will Pauling has presented 49ers with choice between age and excitement
Kirk's numbers have not been that great in recent seasons. Still, he has eight NFL seasons under his belt. That certainly counts for something, especially in the eyes of head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Shanahan demands a ton out of his wide receivers, and, if Kirk can get healthier these next few weeks, it wouldn’t be a shock if he goes with age over excitement.
They could still retain Pauling by putting him on the practice squad, but if Kirk's calf issue starts bugging him again, then the rookie could have a legitimate shot to make an impact.
This is all dependent on Kirk’s health, though. An IR stint is not out of the picture, especially with how long the injury has already lingered. If he starts to practice, however, and maybe even plays in a preseason game, then that’s probably all that is needed for him to make the team.
Still, the fact that Pauling has even made this a discussion speaks to how solid he’s been thus far. It may not earn him a roster spot, but he could definitely be a guy they turn to when injuries inevitably strike.
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