Even with a perfect 3-0 record, those San Francisco 49ers are scrambling hard at wide receiver right now, bringing in former second-round pick Dante Pettis to their practice squad after a tryout. It’s just another change in a receiver room that has seen a ton of movement already this season, showing that even the top teams deal with major headaches.
The Niners’ WR Room Is a MASH Unit, But They’re Still Winning?
Seriously, the injury report for the 49ers’ wideouts reads like a who’s who of players who are *not* currently playing. Ricky Pearsall, De’Zhaun Stribling, Demarcus Robinson, Christian Kirk, and Mike Evans have all been sidelined this season. To cope, San Francisco already signed Khadarel Hodge and Brandin Cooks, either to the active roster or the practice squad, and now Pettis is joining the depth chart. Pettis spent the 2025 season with the New Orleans Saints, where he played eight games, snagging nine passes for 127 yards. He was just one of nine players who worked out for the Niners on Tuesday, showing just how many bodies they’re cycling through. Despite all this chaos, the 49ers are somehow still 3-0 and their offense is absolutely humming. While most of their injured receiver talent, except Pearsall, is expected back at some point this season, it’s clear they are looking for stability.
A Former Pro Bowler Could Be Their Steal, But Is It Worth The Risk?
This brings us to the really interesting part: former first-round pick Brian Thomas Jr. from the Jacksonville Jaguars. Thomas, drafted in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, has been battling injury and inconsistency through his first three years in the league. This season, through three games, he’s only got seven catches for 88 yards, playing just 42 percent of the team’s offensive snaps, which is easily a career low for him. His sophomore campaign in 2025 wasn’t great either, with only 48 catches for 707 yards and two touchdowns, and his catch rate sitting under 53 percent.
But here’s the kicker: Thomas was *excellent* as a rookie in 2024. He hauled in 87 passes for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns, even making the Pro Bowl. With his snaps dwindling in Jacksonville, he’s looking more and more like a trade candidate. The Jaguars reportedly even listened to offers this past offseason, so he’s clearly available. The 49ers could be a top fit, given their clear need for receiver talent, their desire for younger players, and that field-stretcher role that keeps getting handed off from Pearsall to Stribling, then Robinson, and now Hodge. Acquiring Thomas wouldn’t be too expensive right now because his role is so small. He’s a cost-controlled receiver who could fill that injured role, potentially providing a short-term, and maybe even long-term, solution.
It’ll be interesting to see if the 49ers pull the trigger on a trade for a player like Thomas, or if their current patchwork squad can keep that 3-0 streak alive until their main guys return. For a team that’s already humming on offense, adding a talent like that for cheap could be a real problem for the rest of the league down the road.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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