The injury bug has not been kind to the 49ers' offense.
San Francisco began the 2024 season shorthanded, with star running back Christian McCaffrey missing the season opener due to an Achilles injury, and subsequently placed on injured reserve.
Now, the 49ers are going to be without their top wide receiver for the foreseeable future, as Deebo Samuel is expected to miss multiple weeks with a calf strain.
With Samuel set to miss time, who will see an uptick in targets? Here's more to know about the 49ers' wide receiver room.
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Deebo Samuel injury update
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed after Week 2 that Samuel will miss "a couple weeks" after suffering a calf injury during the team's loss to the Vikings. He finished the game, racking up eight catches for 110 yards to spearhead Shanahan's offense.
"He told me he thinks he did it when he caught — I think it was like, the third-to-last play," Shanahan said . "They had a blitz down in the red zone; he caught the hot route breaking in. He says he thinks he did it on that play. There was only like, two or three plays after that play, though."
Samuel currently leads the team in receptions (13) and receiving yards (164). On the ground, he has 10 carries for 13 yards and a score.
MORE: Why did Deebo Samuel change his jersey number?
49ers WR depth chart
| Rank | Player |
| No. 1 | Brandon Aiyuk |
| No. 2 | Jauan Jennings |
| No. 3 | Chris Conley |
| No. 4 | Jacob Cowing |
| No. 5 | Ronnie Bell |
| No. 6 | Deebo Samuel |
| No. 7 | Ricky Pearsall - NFI |
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No. 1. Brandon Aiyuk
Aiyuk wanted to be paid like a top wide receiver — now he is one. After receiving his massive contract extension before the season, the Arizona State product is now San Francisco's top wide receiver. Aiyuk enjoyed a sensational 2023 campaign, leading the 49ers in receptions (75), targets (105), receiving yards (1,342) and was tied for first in receiving touchdowns (7). It was the second consecutive season that Aiyuk recorded at least 75 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards.
Looking simply at passing, there is no one else who brings what Aiyuk does to the table on the roster. He's dangerous in open space, with a thick build that bodes well for the physical part of the game, and he has explosive speed that allows him to separate from defenders. His start to 2024 has been disappointing so far, with six catches for 71 yards through two games, but with Samuel set to miss time, he should see an increase in targets.
MORE: Revisiting Brandon Aiyuk's tumultuous offseason and contract dispute
No. 2. Jauan Jennings
With Samuel out, Jennings steps up to be the second option at wide receiver behind
Jennings is an aggressive route runner who plays more like a smaller tight end than a wide receiver. His drops are a bit of a concern, but his size and strength make him impactful on offense. Last year, he played in 13 games, bringing in 19 catches on 33 targets for 265 yards and a touchdown. He is well on his way to passing that this year, with seven receptions for 101 yards entering Week 3.
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No. 3. Chris Conley
Conley, a 31-year-old veteran, wasn't a major part of San Francisco's offense last year. He had three catches on six targets for 69 yards, but now, with injuries to Samuel and Ricky Pearsall, he could be utilized more.
The wide receiver comes with plenty of experience. So far in 2024, he has a single catch for four yards, but he could be used more in Shanahan's offense given the limited weapons at his disposal.
No. 4. Jacob Cowing
Cowing is a 2024 fourth-round pick of the 49ers. The wide receiver played for three years at UTEP before transferring to Arizona, where he spent two seasons with the Wildcats.
Cowing's inclusion on the 53-man roster isn't all that surprising. Despite missing the majority of training camp and the first preseason game due to a hamstring injury, he showed no signs of slowing down, carving out a role in the 49ers' offense that could easily allow him to move up the depth chart. However, he has not recorded a catch yet for San Francisco, instead being used as a returner.
No. 5. Ronnie Bell
Bell is a second-year wide receiver out of Michigan. The 49ers drafted him in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
As a rookie, Bell was mostly utilized as a punt returner, splitting duties with Ray-Ray McCloud III. Bell returned 10 punts for 70 yards, but now with McCloud III on the Falcons, it could open up a chance for the young receiver. However, he has not fielded a return, nor seen any action so far on offense.
No. 6. Deebo Samuel
Samuel is far from your typical wide receiver. Last year, the 49ers fully committed to using the 28-year-old in both the passing and running game. He finished third in both receiving (892) and rushing yards (225) on the team, displaying a knack for dodging defenders either after a handoff or after completing a catch.
Samuel is incredibly explosive in open space, which is what makes him such a dynamic weapon for the 49ers. He's speedy and shifty, and he's a yards-after-catch machine. His play style does lead to concerns about injuries — he hasn't played a full season yet in the NFL — but there are very few players who can do what Samuel does.
MORE: Latest injury news, updates on Deebo Samuel
His injury pushes him down, but make no mistake — when healthy, Samuel is, at minimum, a WR1-B to Aiyuk's WR1-A.
No. 7. Ricky Pearsall — NFI
The 49ers surprised some when they elected to use the No. 31 pick in the 2024 draft on a wide receiver, taking Pearsall with one of the final picks in the first round. The Florida product is considered to be a vertical slot option that possesses the speed and ball skills to be a weapon.
MORE: What happened to Ricky Pearsall?
Pearsall currently is on the NFI list after he was the victim of a shooting during a robbery attempt in the preseason. He also is currently dealing with a shoulder subluxation issue that has lingered since college. He originally suffered the injury as a junior in college, never fully healed it, and re-aggravated it twice this preseason.
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