As injuries alter 49ers camp, one young receiver is seizing his shot - sfstandard.com

SANTA CLARA — By the end of Wednesday’s practice, 20 players were unavailable for the 49ers. Jokes and memes about the electrical substation next to the practice fields — an anonymous X user created a viral profile — are running rampant online. But interim head coach Chris Foerster believes there’s no reason to panic. “It seems like we’re very healthy,” Foerster said. “I mean, we have injuries. We have dings and bumps and bruises, and guys are missing practices — but if you’re two-deep at every position, you can practice. … Sometimes guys are dinged up, you keep them out just because you don’t wanna risk it in — guys that probably would play if it were a game this week. So you can’t overreact to injuries.” The first part of Foerster’s answer came in response to a question about a joint practice scheduled for Tuesday with the Tennessee Titans. Two years ago, the 49ers canceled a joint camp session with the New Orleans Saints because they were too banged up — 23 players were out — to confidently work through the extra rigors of practice against another team. One can surmise, then, that the 49ers’ issues so far this camp have largely been minor. Of course, that isn’t the case with receiver Ricky Pearsall, who is shut down for the season and will undergo PCL surgery . But it does seem that the rest of the sidelined 49ers will be back soon — and that a big chunk of the inactive group was held out Wednesday as a precaution. “You always have to be careful that reps in don’t take away from reps in January,” Foerster said. He was referring to the workload of 38-year-old left tackle Trent Williams. But that statement undoubtedly also applies to 33-year-old receiver Mike Evans — who has missed two practices with a quad strain but looks healthy running during sessions on the side field — and several other veterans. It might even apply to rookie receiver De’Zhaun Stribling, who looked fantastic during the first few practices before missing the last three with hamstring tightness — absences the 49ers said are precautionary. Of the injuries reported Wednesday, perhaps only one threatens to change the complexion of the 53-man roster: receiver Jacob Cowing’s hip flexor. That’s because Cowing, whose 2025 season was wiped out with a severe hamstring strain, is in a battle to make the team. And injuries create chances for others. “It’s always opportunities for other guys — the next-guy, next-man-up philosophy,” Foerster said. “As far as an evaluation process goes, it is helpful.” Wednesday’s biggest beneficiary might have been second-year receiver Junior Bergen, who caught two red-zone passes from quarterback Brock Purdy — including a touchdown. Bergen, who notched an FCS-record eight punt return touchdowns in college at Montana, has been significantly more productive than Cowing as a receiver in camp. In 2025, Bergen — a seventh-round pick who spent his rookie season on the practice squad — was only considered a viable option at punt returner. But a year of work seems to have shifted the window of possibilities. The 49ers’ punt returner job is open after Skyy Moore left in free agency, so the best player there will likely win a spot on the 53-man roster — especially if he also can produce on offense. And so far, with several receivers at least temporarily sidelined, Bergen is making the case that he can do just that. Extra points • There’s a new layer of intrigue to the 49ers’ competition at left guard. Connor Colby was no longer with the first team. Veteran Robert Jones replaced him with the starters while Colby took only second-team reps. Foerster said the team hoped to experiment with interior offensive line combinations — including some with Colby working at right guard — but the absences of rookie Carver Willis (concussion) and Brett Toth (undisclosed injury) restricted their options. Still, it’s clear that Colby — even if he remains the favorite to win the job at left guard — is not close to having that locked up. “It looked like he’d made a big step,” Foerster said. “Now we’re getting back to some live work, and even though it has improved, some of those same holes are still there. He tried to fix them in the offseason, and he did, but then, when the live work in pads started, it started not being as consistent. Some of the things that he struggled with a year ago are coming back — not as bad as they were — but still not the consistency that we’d like to see.” • Purdy was excellent, completing 13 of 14 passes. He found tight end Luke Farrell — an increasingly involved member of the pass attack — three times and finished practice with a deep touchdown to receiver Jordan Watkins. Purdy also rushed for a touchdown and broke into his signature dance, the Dougie, in the end zone. • Purdy also found running back Christian McCaffrey, who has ripped off explosive plays at every practice so far, for a big gain off a rollout. “He looks really, really good this camp,” Foerster said of McCaffrey. “Very decisive this camp. He’s running downhill hard. Very no-nonsense approach to this season.” • Rookie defensive tackle Gracen Halton has recovered from a bone bruise in the knee. He returned to practice and let out a roar after beating offensive lineman Nick Zakelj with a clean swim move during one-on-one work. • Rookie linebacker Jaden Dugger was back with his original position group after working a practice with the defensive ends. Dugger intercepted a pass that was tipped by cornerback Jack Jones, and he returned it for a touchdown. It’s becoming apparent that the 49ers want to deploy Dugger, who has a 7-foot wingspan, in an adaptable fashion that’s similar to how defensive coordinator Raheem Morris used Atlanta Falcons rookie Jalon Walker last year. Don’t be surprised to see Dugger — who played safety, edge rusher, and linebacker in college — continue practicing at multiple positions.