Headline: Russell Gage Pushes for No. 3 Slot Receiver Role as 49ers Navigate WR Depth
The San Francisco 49ers are sorting through their wide receiver group as the regular season approaches, with injuries and suspensions creating shifting opportunities. After rookie Jordan Watkins suffered a high ankle sprain, veteran Russell Gage now appears to have the inside track to win the club’s No. 3 slot receiver job.
If Jauan Jennings is healthy for Week 1, he would be the clear No. 1 target, with second-year pro Ricky Pearsall emerging as a solid option at No. 2, thanks to a developing rapport with quarterback Brock Purdy in training camp. That framework leaves a competition for the slot behind them, where Watkins and Gage were the earliest candidates.
Watkins’ injury alters the dynamic, moving the spotlight to Gage, as the battle widens to include other veterans like Robbie Chosen and Isaiah Hodgins. Gage hasn’t played in the NFL since 2022, when he was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and his career numbers include nearly 2,500 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. A torn patellar tendon in 2023 set back his return, but the LSU product has impressed in camp and is viewed as a potential diamond-in-the-rough signing in a receiver group that remains undefined deeper down the depth chart.
In San Francisco’s preseason opener against Denver, Gage had two catches for 3 yards, a modest showing that will put added pressure on him to contribute more in the remaining tune-up games to solidify the role. Watkins, by contrast, flashed a 50-yard catch early against Denver and finished with three receptions for 56 yards, but head coach Kyle Shanahan noted after the game that the rookie made some misreads in routes, a reminder of the high bar the coach sets for his receivers.
With Jennings likely to be healthy for Week 1, he remains the top option, and Pearsall has earned trust in the quarterback room. Yet the 49ers’ wideout picture is fluid: Brandon Aiyuk could miss the early part of the season, and Demarcus Robinson faces an uncertain suspension situation. If Watkins returns sooner than expected, the battle could re-shuffle quickly; if not, Gage has a real shot to lock down the No. 3 slot.
What this means for the 49ers going forward is a clearer path for Gage to prove himself as a versatile option who can contribute in the slot at a time when the team needs reliable targets for Purdy. The next two preseason games will be telling as Gage, Watkins, and the rest of the depth chart continue to compete for a role that will be critical when September arrives.
Summary: The 49ers’ receiver depth is being tested as injuries and suspensions shape the slot battle. Gage’s return to health and a strong training camp showing give him an edge for the No. 3 role, but the position remains in flux with Watkins’ recovery and other veterans waiting in the wings.
Positive take: The improving depth at wide receiver presents the team with more options and flexibility, allowing Shanahan to tailor formations and play calls to exploit matchups once the season begins.