The San Francisco 49ers are trying to figure out their wide receiver situation before the regular season. After the injury to rookie Jordan Watkins, veteran Russell Gage may now have the inside track on winning the slot receiver role.
The Niners are dealing with a lot of variables at wide receiver right now. Jauan Jennings wants a new contract and has a calf injury, whether real or contract-related, that has kept him out of practice. Brandon Aiyuk seems likely to miss the first few weeks of the regular season. Demarcus Robinson faces a potential suspension.
Assuming Jennings is healthy and suits up in Week 1, he would be the clear No. 1 receiver. Second-year pro Ricky Pearsall, who has established a rapport with quarterback Brock Purdy in training camp, would be the clear No. 2.
That still leaves a battle for the No. 3 wide receiver in the slot.
Watkins and Gage seemed like the two likeliest candidates for that role prior to Watkins going down in practice with a high ankle sprain that could keep him out for a month. The battle would have pit a veteran against a rookie, but it now seems Gage's primary competition will be other veterans like Robbie Chosen or Isaiah Hodgins.
Russell Gage gets big boost in slot WR competition after injury to Watkins
Gage has not appeared in the NFL since 2022 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has nearly 2,500 career receiving yards and 14 touchdown catches, but a patellar tendon tear back in 2023 has made for a long road to recovery.
The former LSU standout has turned some heads in training camp for the Niners. He has looked like he could be a diamond-in-the-rough signing with the wide receiver competition fairly wide open further down on the depth chart.
Gage did not do much in the team's first preseason game against the Denver Broncos, hauling in two catches for 3 yards, so he may need to do a little more in the following two preseason games to earn the role.
It is a shame Watkins got hurt because he looked good as well prior to the injury. He caught a big 50-yard reception in the first quarter against Denver, but was fairly quiet after that as he had three catches for 56 yards on the day. He was still a winner on the day.
Despite this, head coach Kyle Shanahan did note in his postgame presser that Watkins made some rookie mistakes out there and was confused on some routes. We know Shanahan has a reputation for demanding a lot from his wide receivers, which is why rookies often do not get a ton of action initially.
It could have been a good battle between Gage and Watkins, but for now Gage seems to have the inside track on the No. 3 spot. However, with players dropping like flies plenty can still change before the regular season.
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