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Christian McCaffrey Christian McCaffrey To receive more rest in 2026
Mon, Mar 30, 2026, 3:18 PM
San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that "in order to have [McCaffrey] be as good as he can be throughout the whole year, we've got to get someone to help him," Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: McCaffrey earned NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors in 2025, in which he suited up for all 17 regular-season games while racking up 2,126 yards from scrimmage and 17 total touchdowns on a career-high 413 touches. Shanahan acknowledged that McCaffrey, who will turn 30 in June and was limited to just four appearances in 2024 due to Achilles and knee issues, may have had his efficiency hampered by his workhorse role in 2025, as he averaged just 3.9 YPC. Jordan James and Isaac Guerendo are current candidates to compete for an increased No. 2 role behind McCaffrey following the departure of Brian Robinson for Atlanta, but the 49ers also could make further additions to the backfield in April's draft. |
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George Kittle George Kittle GM hopes for Week 1 return
Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 2:00 PM
49ers general manager John Lynch told reporters Sunday that he is "hopeful" that Kittle (Achilles) will be available for Week 1 of the 2026 season, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Lynch noted that Kittle is progressing well in his recovery from a torn right Achilles that he suffered in the 49ers' NFC wild-card win over the Eagles in January. Working in Kittle's favor is the fact that he suffered a clear tear near the soleus muscle higher up the Achilles, which typically takes less time to rehab, but whether the veteran tight end is available for the start of the regular season ultimately will come down to his participation in training camp in July and August. Jake Tonges (foot) would be slated to serve as the Niners' TE1 to open the 2026 season if Kittle is not ready to return by then. |
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Christian Kirk Christian Kirk Joining forces with Niners
Mon, Mar 16, 2026, 3:17 PM
Kirk is slated to sign a one-year, $6 million contract with San Francisco, NFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports.
Analysis: Kirk, who is heading into his age-30 season, will join a 49ers wide receiver corps that also houses free-agent signee Mike Evans, plus incumbents Ricky Pearsall and Demarcus Robinson, where he presumably pencils in for the No. 3 role. Across 13 regular-season appearances with the Texans in 2025, Kirk was limited to just a 28-239-1 line on 52 targets, but he flashed down the stretch, combining for 10 catches for 164 yards and two scores (15 targets) during the team's two postseason games. Although he faces crowded competition for targets, with RB Christian McCaffrey and TE George Kittle (Achilles) also present, Kirk could prove productive while paired with QB Brock Purdy in head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense, if a path to consistent opportunities materializes. |
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Brandon Aiyuk Brandon Aiyuk Still likely to be released
Wed, Mar 11, 2026, 3:58 PM
The 49ers are still expected to move on from Aiyuk (knee) but won't necessarily release him Wednesday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: With the 2026 league year kicking off Wednesday afternoon, San Francisco can now release Aiyuk with a post-June 1 designation that spreads some of the dead-cap charge to 2027. Multiple reporters, including Jonathan Jones of CBSSports.com, have suggested that Aiyuk is likely to end up in Washington, where he'd reunite with close friend and former college teammate Jayden Daniels. |
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Jake Tonges Jake Tonges Signs extension
Wed, Mar 11, 2026, 3:02 PM
Tonges (foot) is signing a two-year, $8 million contract to stay with the 49ers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Tonges was scheduled for restricted free agency and presumably would've gotten some kind of tender if the two sides hadn't worked out this deal. He suffered a plantar fascia injury during the playoff loss at Seattle in January, but it's thought to be less serious than the Achilles tear that George Kittle suffered a week earlier. Tonges thus stands a chance to start Week 1. |
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Patrick Taylor Patrick Taylor Staying in San Francisco
Wed, Mar 11, 2026, 1:50 PM
Taylor (shoulder) is slated to re-sign with the 49ers, per his representation at Equity Sports.
Analysis: Taylor missed the entire 2025 campaign due to a shoulder injury suffered during the preseason, for which he require surgery, but he's presumably now fully healthy and ready for the start of offseason activities. In what will be his age-28 season, Taylor projects to provide backfield depth behind Christian McCaffrey, Jordan James and Isaac Guerendo. |
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Mike Evans Mike Evans Joining forces with Kyle Shanahan
Mon, Mar 9, 2026, 1:37 PM
Evans is in line to sign a three-year contract with the 49ers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Evans' agent released a statement Monday confirming that the wideout will leave Tampa Bay after 12 seasons. He showed some signs of decline in 2025 and now will turn 33 before Week 1 of 2026, but it's hard to think of a better location for Evans to regain fantasy value -- especially if fellow free agent Jauan Jennings doesn't return to San Francisco. The 49ers have a breakout candidate in Ricky Pearsall, but there's not much else of note in the WR room unless Jennings re-signs (which isn't likely at this point). |
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Jacob Cowing Jacob Cowing Doesn't play in 2025
Thu, Feb 12, 2026, 1:00 PM
Cowing was unable to take the field during the 2025 season due to a hamstring injury.
Analysis: Cowing, a 2024 fourth-round pick from Arizona, was placed on the injured reserve list in late August and missed San Francisco's entire campaign. The 25-year-old returned to full practice and nearly rejoined the 49ers' active roster for their playoff run but was ultimately unable to do so. Under contract through 2027, Cowing will likely have the opportunity to compete for a depth-role in San Francisco's wide-receiver room ahead of next season. |
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Kyle Juszczyk Kyle Juszczyk Productive season as receiver
Thu, Feb 12, 2026, 12:44 PM
Juszczyk caught 24 of 28 targets for 213 yards and two touchdowns while rushing twice for minus-3 yards across 17 regular-season games in 2025.
Analysis: With the 49ers' wide-receiver room struggling with injuries throughout the year, Juszczyk was relied upon more heavily as a pass catcher. The Harvard product responded with his highest reception and yardage totals since his 2021 campaign, ranking seventh on the team in catches and eighth in receiving yards. Under contract through 2026, the 34-year-old is expected to retain a similar role in San Francisco's offense next season. |
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Christian McCaffrey Christian McCaffrey Named Comeback Player of Year
Thu, Feb 5, 2026, 8:43 PM
McCaffrey was named the 2025 Comeback Player of the Year on Thursday, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: McCaffrey was limited to only four games in 2024 due to Achilles and knee injuries, but he managed to suit up for all 17 regular-season contests in 2025. He also handled an impressive 413 total touches while racking up 2,126 yards from scrimmage. McCaffrey's rushing efficiency took a concerning dip, but his involvement as a pass catcher should help him retain elite fantasy value in 2026. |
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Adrian Martinez Adrian Martinez Signs futures deal with 9ers
Wed, Jan 21, 2026, 7:10 PM
San Francisco signed Martinez to a reserve/future contract Tuesday.
Analysis: Martinez spent most of the 2025 season on the 49ers' and the Jets' practice squads, taking just one snap with San Francisco in Week 9 against the Giants to execute the game-ending kneel down. It appears the 49ers saw something they liked in Martinez though, so he'll be staying with them to begin the 2026 league year. |
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Jake Tonges Jake Tonges Has plantar fascia injury
Wed, Jan 21, 2026, 3:11 PM
Tonges suffered a plantar fascia injury in his foot during this past Saturday's divisional-round loss at Seattle, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Analysis: Tonges flashed at times during the 2025 campaign when George Kittle was sidelined for a variety of injuries, totaling a 40-366-5 line on 55 targets in 19 games, including two postseason contests. He made an early exit in the third quarter of the divisional round and wasn't able to return, and now the nature of his health concern is known. Tonges has a three-week recovery on tap, so he should be fully healthy before the 49ers need to make a decision on his restricted free-agent tender in March. |
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Mac Jones Mac Jones May stay with Niners
Wed, Jan 21, 2026, 2:23 PM
San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday that he expects Jones to be with the 49ers for 2026, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Analysis: General manager John Lynch also praised Jones but didn't comment on expectations for next season. Jones went 5-3 as a starter while completing 69.6 percent of his passes for 7.4 YPA, giving the 49ers a fantastic return on their investment in the first season of a two-year, $8.4 million contract. He probably won't be content to return to San Francisco as an underpaid backup, but his contract does give the team some leverage in discussions about a trade or raise. |
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Brandon Aiyuk Brandon Aiyuk Won't play for Niners again
Wed, Jan 21, 2026, 2:11 PM
San Francisco GM John Lynch said Wednesday that Aiyuk (knee) won't play for the 49ers again, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Reports in November suggested Aiyuk was angling for his release after the 49ers voided guarantees in his contract. He'll likely get his wish in the coming weeks, with Lynch now confirming that Aiyuk won't be welcomed back to the team. |
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George Kittle George Kittle Eyeing expedited return from injury
Tue, Jan 20, 2026, 11:24 AM
Kittle said Monday that the right Achilles surgery he underwent last week went as well as possible, and the tight end said he expects to return to action "well before November" during the 2026 season, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Though a more definitive target date for his return won't become apparent until he's further along in the rehab process, Kittle is optimistic that he'll face a shorter recovery timeline than most players coming back from Achilles surgery because he suffered a clear tear near the soleus muscle. Since that muscle is located higher up on the Achilles and he didn't need surgery on his heel, Kittle said that his surgeon, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, termed the procedure as a "best-case scenario." Kittle still appears likely to open training camp on a reserve list while he works his way through the rehab process, but he suggested that he's not closing the door on being ready to play by Week 1 of next season, when he would be approximately eight months removed from surgery. |
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Brock Purdy Brock Purdy No offseason procedures anticipated
Mon, Jan 19, 2026, 3:02 PM
Purdy said Monday that he will not require an offseason procedure to address the turf toe injury that hampered him early during the 2025 campaign, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Purdy's turf toe injury bothered him as early as Week 1, and, in conjunction with an AC joint sprain in his left shoulder, he was forced him to miss two games. In his return to action Week 4, he then aggravated the toe issue, resulting in a six-game stretch on the sidelines. Purdy said he'll continue strengthening the toe this offseason, but the issue won't cause him any limitations during team activities or require surgery. Across his nine combined regular-season appearances and two playoff tilts, Purdy completed an impressive 230 of 342 pass attempts for 2,569 yards, 22 touchdowns and three interceptions, while also rushing 47 times for 208 yards and three scores. Looking ahead to the 2026 campaign, however, Purdy's fantasy prospects look murky. George Kittle (Achilles) is recovering from a significant injury, while at wide receiver Jauan Jennings is staring down free agency, and injuries consistently hampered Ricky Pearsall in 2025. |
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Kendrick Bourne Kendrick Bourne Solid return to SF in 2025
Mon, Jan 19, 2026, 1:53 PM
Bourne finished the regular season with 37 receptions for 551 yards across 16 games played with the 49ers.
Analysis: The veteran wideout returned to the club that he began his career with as an undrafted free agent back in 2017. Bourne was brought in to help fill the void left by injured starters Brandon Aiyuk and Ricky Pearsall to begin the year. The 29-year-old Bourne was successful in that role, highlighted by back-to-back 142-yard outings in Weeks 5 and 6. Bourne will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but he's unlikely to land in a situation that would make him a viable fantasy target in 2026. |
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Demarcus Robinson Demarcus Robinson Sour end to underwhelming season
Mon, Jan 19, 2026, 1:39 PM
Robinson brought in his only target for one yard in Saturday's 41-6 divisional-round loss to the Seahawks.
Analysis: Robinson was riding high from his best performance as a member of the 49ers in the wild-card round (6-111-1 versus the Eagles), but he came crashing back down to earth after gaining just one yard on his only touch against Seattle. The veteran wideout got off to a slow start with his new club after serving a three-game suspension to begin the year, and he would go on to post an underwhelming 22-276-1 receiving line across 14 games in the regular season. The 49ers were extremely thin at wide receiver in 2025, making Robinson's lack of involvement frustrating from a fantasy standpoint. The 32-year-old will be back with San Francisco next season for the final year of his two-year contract, likely serving as a depth piece for a retooled receiver room. |
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Brian Robinson Brian Robinson Role marginalized in playoffs
Mon, Jan 19, 2026, 1:18 PM
Robinson had three carries for four yards and one reception for three yards in Saturday's 41-6 playoff loss to the Seahawks.
Analysis: Robinson was able to get involved in the offensive game plan in the divisional round after garnering no touches across seven offensive snaps (12 percent) in San Francisco's wild-card win over the Eagles. The power back was traded to the 49ers last August and offered a true change of pace to Christian McCaffrey's electric running style. Robinson finished the regular season with a 92-400-2 rushing line while appearing in 17 contests behind McCaffrey. The 26-year-old Robinson will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason and should have no problem finding work after averaging 4.1 YPC across four seasons as a pro. |
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Christian McCaffrey Christian McCaffrey Returns to game
Sat, Jan 17, 2026, 9:29 PM
McCaffrey (shoulder) returned to Saturday's divisional-round game against the Seahawks, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Analysis: McCaffrey missed two drives for the 49ers but was able to check back in midway through the third quarter after dealing with a stinger. He should serve as the team's lead back, though the injury may limit his reps. |
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