#wide-receiver-depth

#wide-receiver-depth

The 49ers' plan at wide receiver this season was draped in maroon and gold. The Niners were supposed to ride into this postseason on the backs of two Arizona State products, a Tempe two-step atop the wide receiver depth chart designed to torment defensive coordinators from Seattle to Philadelphia. Brandon Aiyuk (Arizona State 2018-19) was the established star, the alpha, the $30-million man. Ricky Pearsall (2019-21 before transferring to Florida) was the first-round heir apparent, the route-running savant. Together, they were the Sun Devil pincer.

Nobody needs to tell Washington Commanders fans that their fortunes this season have been significantly hindered by injuries. It's been one problem after another for head coach Dan Quinn to navigate, and it's shown no real signs of slowing down late in the campaign. One player has suffered more than most. And his latest injury setback means the Commanders have every right to take matters into their own hands.

When CeeDee Lamb went down with a multi-week ankle injury in a Week 3 loss in Chicago, it felt like the sky was going to fall for the Dallas offense. Instead, we've seen George Pickens, Jake Ferguson, and an unexpected Cowboys rising star emerge. Ryan Flournoy, the team's sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, finally saw the field consistently and took advantage of the opportunity.

"That's obviously a tough loss for our football team, but we'll regroup," Daboll said. "We'll get the guys ready to play that are here and be as good as we can be. On the perimeter, I know those guys will do everything they can do to be as good as we can be. "But certainly, when you lose one of your better players, that's a big loss."

We can only get five right now, we've only been taking five, so that can change each week. And he's working hard, working in practice. We'll evaluate that each week as to what his role would be and how he can help us. But that's kind of where that is.

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Cardinals wide receiver Zay Jones will not play Thursday night against the Seattle Seahawks after not yet clearing concussion protocol, coach Jonathan Gannon said Wednesday. Jones suffered the injury on the last offensive snap of Sunday's 16-15 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, on which Jones had a pass knocked out of his hands on a crucial third-and-9. Gannon said he didn't know about Jones' injury until after his post-game press conference.

One of the reasons Wednesday's on-field work was more quiet than usual was because of who was absent: wide receiver Rashee Rice. A few hours before the Chiefs' practice began, Rice, a three-year player and the No. 1 receiver for quarterback Patrick Mahomes, accepted a six-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, punishment that the league made official Wednesday afternoon. Rice will not be eligible to return until the Oct. 7 home game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 7.