The San Francisco 49ers‘ risk just happened to pay off.
The Niners released wideout Russell Gage from their active roster yet managed to re-sign him to their practice squad Wednesday, avoiding a potentially catastrophic and embarrassing situation ahead of Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks.
Gage, who has not played in the NFL since 2022 after he sustained a catastrophic leg injury in as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2023 wild-card game, had five catches for 28 yards in the preseason. But he was one of the few still-standing wideouts for the Niners ahead of Week 1 — despite an MCL sprain that cost him about 10 days during the preseason.
Why Did the 49ers Release Russell Gage?
The 49ers’ wide receiver room is getting somewhat healthier, but cutting Gage — as one of just five healthy wideouts between the practice squad and active roster — was a huge risk.
Brandon Aiyuk is still going to be out for some time, Jauan Jennings has both held in for a more lucrative contract and been injured, Demarcus Robinson is suspended by the NFL for three games after a DUI in 2024 and Ricky Pearsall is still getting up to speed after battling multiple leg injuries during preseason.
Gage had been listed as San Francisco’s backup wideout behind Jennings on the team’s first-released unofficial depth chart Tuesday.
So things have gotten so dire that the Niners added Marquez Valdes-Scantling — who had previously been cut by the Seahawks — to their practice squad and are intending to start him as their No. 3 wideout against his now-former team with Pearsall and Jennings.
Yet, therein lies the Niners’ issue. Because to promote Valdes-Scantling to their active roster, they needed to make a roster move. With just five wide receivers — including rookie Jordan Watkins — the 49ers could have parted with a player at a different, deeper position.
Yet, they released Gage in the hopes of sneaking him through waivers so they could replace Valdes-Scantling with him on their practice squad. Luckily, San Francisco got away with it.
What’s The Deal With the 49ers and Kendrick Bourne?
Before signing Valdes-Scantling, the Niners worked out free agent wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, after he was released by the New England Patriots last week. They even offered him a contract before Bourne left the facility to work out for the Washington Commanders on Tuesday.
Bourne could have slid right in as an experienced receiver who knows Kyle Shanahan’s offense intimately, since Bourne spent his first four seasons with the 49ers — and played in Super Bowl LIV.
Yet, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Bourne would not be signing with either the Commanders or 49ers until at least after Week 1.
“Free agent WR Kendrick Bourne has elected to sit this week out and weigh his options over the weekend and see which team is the best fit, source said,” Rapoport shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.
Bourne was even more effective in New England than he was in the Bay Area, since he had 155 catches for 1,945 yards and 11 touchdowns in 58 games with the Patriots and just 137 catches for 1,763 yards and 11 TDs in 53 games in San Francisco.
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