There were multiple headlines regarding the 49ers razor thin wide receiver room on Tuesday. First, head coach Kyle Shanahan joined Dirty Work with Adam Copeland and Dereke Papa. He touched on a number of topics, but mentioned briefly that wideout Demarcus Robinson would be unavailable for the first three games of the season while he serves a suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. The suspension stems from a DUI arrest.
Copes clarified that the suspension, ambiguous in length for the better part of three months, was now official. Shanahan confirmed.
As did ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Not too long after that, Jordan Schultz reported that the Niners had completed a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs for speedy wide receiver Skyy Moore.
If you’re worried about the 49ers wide receiver depth as the season opener in Seattle steadily approaches, you’re not alone. Outside of second year receiver Ricky Pearsall, there’s been substantial uncertainty surrounding every other name in the room. Even Pearsall, as positively as his preseason has gone, is largely unproven after an abbreviated rookie season.
Rookie Jordan Watkins figured to be at the very least in the mix, but a high ankle sprain has sidelined him for the remainder of the preseason, and likely the first game of the regular season. Who knows exactly how much the rookie out of Ole Miss will be able to take on when he does return.
There’s Jauan Jennings, of course. Without Brandon Aiyuk, Jennings is the most experienced and accomplished receiver on the roster. Jennings has expressed a desire for a contract extension, he and his representation leaning on the leverage of the aforementioned barren cupboard in the wide receiver room. Jennings himself is nursing a bad calf, although some speculate that the calf would magically heal if a new contract were to be hammered out.