The 49ers are sitting at 5-0, but the receiver room has been stripped down by injuries, and that is why San Francisco is already looking ahead to the trade deadline.
Ricky Pearsall is out for the season after landing on season-ending injured reserve with a lingering knee problem. Christian Kirk, De’Zhaun Stribling, and Demarcus Robinson are also on IR. On top of that, Deebo Samuel is expected to miss at least a couple of weeks after the hamstring injury he picked up in Seattle.
That has left Mike Evans and Brandin Cooks carrying a heavier load than the team probably envisioned. Evans delivered exactly what the front office hoped for, including a 113-yard afternoon in the Week 5 comeback win over the Seahawks, while Cooks has helped steady the group.
Still, if the 49ers want to stay ahead of the injury curve, three names stand out.
Jauan Jennings, Minnesota Vikings, is the cleanest fit. He has basically disappeared in Minnesota, with only two catches for nine yards through five games even while playing plenty of snaps behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. The spring breakup was messy, but a one-year rental for a late-round pick is the kind of move that could work for both sides.
If San Francisco wants to go bigger, Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars brings the most upside. The 24-year-old was electric as a rookie, piling up 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns, but this season has been a different story: just nine receptions for 105 yards.
Jacksonville has reportedly shown no interest in dealing him, though the return Arizona got for Marvin Harrison Jr. could change the math, and a price around a second-round pick would be expensive but understandable for a player who could become part of the long-term core. Thomas would also give Brock Purdy a real vertical threat beyond just this run.
Then there’s Jerry Jeudy, the practical choice. Word around the league is that his availability is well known, and the Browns are hoping for a third- or fourth-round return.
He has fallen behind rookies KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston in Cleveland, but he’s only two years removed from a 1,229-yard Pro Bowl season, and his $1.5 million base salary is easy to fit into a contender’s payroll. His route-running would blend neatly with Evans’ size on the outside and give Shanahan the separator he has been missing.
The 49ers have already shown they can win ugly. Adding one of these three would make this unbeaten start look a lot more sustainable when it matters most.
In Other News...
49ers Need Answers At Key Spots Before Washington Tests Their Depth
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The defensive side brings its own questions, with Dre Greenlaw suspended and rookie linebacker Jaden Dugger positioned for a much larger role than he has had so far. Mykel Williams is also being eased back in after his ACL injury, and the 49ers are still monitoring how Colby holds up against a strong opponent as the depth chart gets tested in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Brock Purdy Debate Takes An Ugly Turn As Old Take Resurfaces
Brock Purdys strong start has the 49ers rolling again, and the old conversation around his place among the NFLs top quarterbacks has popped back up with it. Through five games, he has 13 touchdowns and San Francisco is 5-0, enough to keep the debate lively and to make some past criticism look a lot worse in hindsight.
Amy Trask, the former Raiders CEO who drew attention for her comments on Purdy during the 2024 playoffs, said the reaction to those remarks crossed a line. She has said she received venom and threats over the take, a reminder that criticism in the age of constant football discourse can turn ugly fast, even as Purdys play and Tom Bradys praise have kept the spotlight squarely on whether the 49ers quarterback is forcing a bigger reevaluation. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Must Clean Up One Costly Issue To Stay Unbeaten Monday Night
A 49ers team still working through injuries and a suspension gets a prime-time chance to keep its unbeaten start rolling Monday night against Washington, and the matchup carries a little extra weight beyond the standings. San Francisco is also on the cusp of another piece of history, entering the game with a chance to add to its long track record under the lights while leaning on the kind of statistical edge that has helped it look like one of the leagues most complete teams so far.
Washington offers a different kind of test, though, because Jayden Daniels can stress defenses in a hurry and the Commanders have been good at taking care of the ball. For San Francisco, the cleaner path is obvious: stay sharp on third down, avoid giveaways, and make the most of what should be favorable moments late in the game. If the 49ers can do that, they should be in position to keep both the win streak and the bigger Monday night chase intact. [Read more 🡒]