The San Francisco 49ers headed into Saturday’s practice thin at wide receiver. Ricky Pearsall’s season is over with a lingering PCL injury. Christian Kirk has a calf strain.
According to the media on hand, rookie wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling isn’t practicing due to hamstring tightness. This team cannot catch a break. There’s no need for the Niners to push Stribling, so if there’s any indication of tightness or injury, they should give their first-year wideout as much time as he needs to return 100%. The 49ers want to avoid it becoming a strain.
The more the top wideouts miss, the more other players will get their opportunities. We know about Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing, but undrafted free agent Wesley Grimes is a big beneficiary, as he could potentially slide into the “F” role, being a bigger body, as well as “Z” opposite Mike Evans.
Grimes was our sleeper pick to push for a roster spot, but make the practice squad at the very least.
UDFA rookie pass rusher Mikail Kamara was carted off
Rookie undrafted free agent pass rusher Mikail Kamara was carted off the practice field with an apparent leg/knee issue, per The Athletic’s Matt Barrows. The team was already missing Cam Sample with a knee injury.
Edge rusher is another position the 49ers can’t afford to be without bodies, as Nick Bosa still hasn’t practiced and Mykel Williams is on the PUP list.
We don’t want to assume the worst for Kamara. His injury history is suboptimal. Kamara suffered season-ending injuries that caused him to miss the 2021 and 2022 seasons in college. Kamara has had a torn labrum and multiple high-ankle sprains at James Madison.
Keion White’s injury
Keion White and Romello Height were also absent from Saturday’s session. Height was recently carted off, although the time clarified that it was just cramps. White sat out with an adductor issue. White has had minor injuries during his career. This wouldn’t be the first time he’s dealt with a groin injury, though. He was listed on the Patriots injury report multiple times in 2024 with groin designations.
The slew of injuries at defensive end meant the 49ers only had two players, Sam Okuayinonu and KJ Henry, as healthy bodies to practice. Kevin Givens, a defensive tackle, had to play snaps along the edge.
