The San Francisco 49ers are dealing with injury issues in the best and most practical way they can — throwing more players at the problem.
The 49ers made a pair of signings on Friday to help fill out the training camp roster with tight end and former Green Bay Packers 3rd-round pick Josiah Deguara and veteran wide receiver Trenton Irwin.
“More receiving help: the 49ers have signed veteran TE Josiah Deguara and former Bengals WR Trenton Irwin to one-year deals,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account on Friday.
Deguara, 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds, was drafted by the Packers in 2020 and played there for 4 seasons before spending 2024 with the Jacksonville Jaguars and 2025 with the Arizona Cardinals.
Irwin made the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and played there for 6 seasons. He’s also spent time on the practice squads or offseason rosters of the Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers, Jaguars, and the New York Jets in 2025.
49ers Already Brought Back All-Pro Wide Receiver
The 49ers brought back 1 of their best wide receivers in recent memory after just 1 year away, signing former NFL All-Pro Deebo Samuel to a 1-year, $7 million contract on Thursday.
Samuel was traded from the 49ers to the Washington Commanders before the 2025 season.
“Reunion: Free agent WR Deebo Samuel is signing back with the #49ers, sources say. The former #Commanders and SF pass-catcher returns where it all began,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on his official X account on Thursday night. “From 2019-2024, Deebo Samuel became a star in SF with Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Now, after a year in Washington, he’s back.”
Samuel is the only wide receiver in NFL history with at least 20 receiving touchdowns and 20 rushing touchdowns.
ESPN put Samuel at No. 5 on its list of the NFL’s “Top Available Free Agents” just 1 month from the start of training camp.
“Samuel caught 72 passes and scored five touchdowns in his one season with the Commanders, with 63.7% of his receiving totals coming after the catch,” ESPN’s Matt Bowen wrote. “A power strider, he would benefit from a system that allows him to get loose on catch-and-run targets.”
Uncertainty Around 1st-Round Pick Forced Move
It’s probably not a coincidence that Samuel signed on the same day reports surfaced that 49ers wide receiver and 2024 1st-round pick Ricky Pearsall might need season-ending knee surgery.
“If surgery is required, he’s going to miss the season,” 49ers reporter Matt Maiocco said during an appearance on The Sports Leader on Thursday.
From The Athletic’s Vic Tafur and Matt Barrows: “Three practices in, the 49ers are losing players at an alarming rate, including receiver Ricky Pearsall, who missed Wednesday’s practice with some swelling in his right knee. Pearsall injured his PCL in the same knee in Week 4 last season, forcing him to miss six games and at times bothering him after he returned. The 49ers are concerned. Pearsall was set to start opposite newcomer Mike Evans but might now be looking at surgery.”
Injuries have forced Pearsall to miss 14 regular-season games over his 1st 2 seasons.
“The 49ers‘ top four WR options right now with Ricky Pearsall sidelined: Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, Christian Kirk, De’Zhaun Stribling,” The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov wrote on his official X account on Thursday.
Like HEAVY’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on HEAVY
The post 49ers Sign 2 Players: Former Packers Draft Pick & Veteran WR appeared first on HEAVY.