Niners Nation
The San Francisco 49ers are on the prowl for another wide receiver after Jordan Watkins will miss about a month with a high-ankle sprain. The team worked out four receivers on Tuesday and decided on Watkins’ temporary replacement.
Per James Larsen, who covers the offseason leagues like the UFL, the Niners are signing Michigan Panthers wideout Malik Turner, who is familiar with the 49ers and Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Turner was productive in the UFL last season:
Turner impressed during Michigan’s two playoff games, where he had 269 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He finished in the top 10 in receiving yards last season in the UFL.
The 49ers haven’t been shy about giving players from the UFL a shot. They have a pair of edge rushers, Bradlee Anae and Jaylon Allen, on the roster. This will be Turner’s third stint with the 49ers, as he was on the roster in 2022 and again on the practice squad in 2024. Hopefully, for his sake, the third time is a charm.
So, Watkins out, and Jacob Cowing in. As the 49ers deal with Jauan Jennings wanting a contract extension, there’s no telling when he’ll return. It’s imperative that the Niners find a reliable target not named Ricky Pearsall for Brock Purdy. That player is Brandon Aiyuk and Demarcus Robinson, but it’s unlikely we’ll see those players in September. And with Watkins slated to be out until September, the door is open for somebody, anybody, to take full advantage. Maybe that’s Cowing.
