The 49ers’ wide receiver room has turned into one of the bigger early questions of camp, but the team does not have to force a fix just yet.
Ricky Pearsall is already on injured reserve and will miss the entire season, while Mike Evans, Christian Kirk and De'Zhaun Stribling have each missed practice at some point in the past week. That leaves San Francisco staring at an uncomfortable possibility for Week 1: Deebo Samuel, Demarcus Robinson and Jacob Cowing as the starting trio if the injury situation doesn’t improve.
That is not where the 49ers want to be, but they still have room to be patient. There is no need to rush into a move now if the front office believes the current group can get healthier over the next month. San Francisco could also simply wait for November’s trade deadline and see how the position looks once the season is underway.
One possible name that has come up is Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. Ernesto Cova of Dawg Pound Daily suggested the fit, while also recommending Cleveland move him before kickoff.
Cova pointed to the Browns drafting Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion, both of whom have made an early impression in training camp, as part of the reason Jeudy could be available. As Cova wrote:
The Browns shouldn't be shopping him, but if a team comes knocking with the right offer, it might be tough to turn them down. That's why, given the latest string of injuries out in the Bay Area, it wouldn't be shocking to see the San Francisco 49ers inquire about his availability... If [San Francisco is] desperate enough to overpay for Jeudy, the Browns should certainly be willing to listen.
For now, though, the 49ers do not appear to need to jump on that kind of move. Injured receivers still have time to get back on the field, and the team can let the next month sort things out before deciding whether to chase help.
If Week 1 arrives and Evans, Kirk and Stribling are still sidelined, then a trade for Jeudy or another receiver would start to make a lot more sense. Right now, San Francisco can afford to wait.
In Other News...
49ers Face One Big Hurdle In Potential Buccaneers Trade
Vita Veas name has quickly surfaced as one to watch for teams around the league, including the 49ers, after the Buccaneers defensive tackle reportedly asked for a trade. The timing is notable for San Francisco, which knows how much a disruptive interior lineman can change a defense, and Veas preference for a West Coast landing spot only adds to the intrigue as the situation develops.
The catch, though, is that Tampa Bay is not operating as if this is a deal that has to happen. General manager Jason Licht said the Buccaneers have no plans to move Vea and are still talking with his agent while looking for acceptable trade value, which is where the real complication begins for any interested team. For the 49ers or anyone else, the price is not just about the trade package, but about whether the long-term contract piece can be put in place fast enough to make the idea workable. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Mourn Aldon Smith As New Questions Emerge After His Death
Aldon Smiths death at 36 has left the 49ers mourning one of the most electric pass rushers of his era, a player whose talent made him impossible to ignore during his time in San Francisco. The team said it was devastated by the news and offered condolences to Smiths family, a reminder of how deeply his presence still resonates around the franchise even years after his playing days.
Questions now linger beyond the grief, with attention turning to what comes next for the former edge rushers legacy and how his family will handle the difficult matters tied to his passing. Smith is survived by his son, Aulis, and the next steps involve a posthumous examination that could provide more clarity about the toll football may have taken on him. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Still Have One Unsettled Problem In The Secondary
The secondary has been one of the more closely watched areas of 49ers camp as the preseason approaches, and Athlon Sports analyst Bryce Lazenby sees a group that still has some sorting out to do. Cornerback depth has drawn attention all summer, with the unit getting a look from veterans Jack Jones and Nate Hobbs, while the team continues trying to piece together its best combination of defensive backs before games count.
Renardo Green has emerged as a steady presence in that mix, giving San Francisco a clearer answer at one corner spot, but the bigger question may be safety. Malik Mustaphas hamstring injury has left the job next to JiAyir Brown unsettled, and the 49ers still need to settle on a reliable tandem behind the pass rush if they want the back end to match the fronts expectations. [Read more 🡒]