The San Francisco 49ers changed things up in their wide receiver room this offseason, and even since the start of training camp, this group looks quite different. Ricky Pearsall‘s season is already over thanks to a PCL injury that requires surgery, which prompted the front office to reunite with Deebo Samuel in free agency.
On paper at least, one guy who entered training camp with long odds to make San Fran’s roster was veteran wideout Demarcus Robinson. However, all the changes have benefited the former Super Bowl champion, and it’s resulted in him going from being a cut candidate to a potential Week 1 starter in the blink of an eye.
Demarcus Robinson Trending Upwards in 49ers’ Wide Receiver Room
A fourth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Robinson has carved out a lengthy career for himself as a secondary playmaker in the passing game. There’s never been a point where Robinson was the No. 1 option on offense for any of his teams, but that hasn’t stopped him from putting together a productive career.
The 2025 campaign was Robinson’s first year with the 49ers, and he ended up catching 22 passes for 276 yards and a touchdown in 14 games. While those numbers aren’t all that impressive, Robinson torched the Philadelphia Eagles in the Niners’ wild-card playoff game, as he hauled in six receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown to help his team advance to the divisional round.
With guys like Mike Evans and Christian Kirk being brought to town this offseason, the writing was seemingly on the wall for Robinson. Instead, with guys like Pearsall and Kirk sidelined, Robinson has been arguably the most consistent pass catcher in town for San Francisco, leading Nick San Miguel of Niner Noise to label him the team’s No. 3 wide receiver when assessing the state of their depth chart at this spot.
“Some were predicting veteran Demarcus Robinson would be cut before the start of the season, but he’s arguably been the most consistent pass-catcher so far in camp,” San Miguel wrote. “He is very durable and stays on the field, so expect him to play a big role on offense this season.”
Demarcus Robinson Could Play Big Role for 49ers in 2026
GettyDemarcus Robinson entered training camp as a cut candidate, but he has quickly made himself a key part of the 49ers’ wide receiver room
Robinson isn’t a guy who is going to pop off for 100 yards and a touchdown every game, but he can take attention off of other top targets like Evans, Samuel, and Kirk, which helps open up the entire passing game. And when he gets a one-on-one matchup, the speedy Robinson has proven he can make plays deep down the field.
Whether or not Kirk will be ready for Week 1 (he has yet to take the field during training camp) is unknown, and that could ultimately determine just how involved Robinson is on offense right out of the gate. He already has a connection with Brock Purdy, which certainly helps, so look for him to continue putting together a strong body of work during training camp in an attempt to solidify himself as a starter.
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