The San Francisco 49ers are one of the most injury-riddled teams in the NFL, as quarterback Brock Purdy is missing time and star EDGE Nick Bosa is out for the season.

On top of that, their top wide receiver, Brandon Aiyuk, has yet to play this season due to a knee injury. Sophomore wideout Ricky Pearsall will also be sidelined for Sunday’s matchup against the Atlanta Falcons because of a knee injury.

Given the injuries in their wide receiver room, their latest transaction was a bit of a surprise.

49ers Cut Ties With Super Bowl Champion WR

Marquez Valdes-Scantling signed to the 49ers’ practice squad in late August after being released by the Seattle Seahawks. He then appeared in five regular-season games against the likes of the Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and others.

In those matchups, he recorded just four catches for 40 yards.

Valdes-Scantling injured his calf during practice on Thursday, and the team later placed him on the injured reserve list, meaning he was guaranteed to miss a minimum of four weeks. However, one day later, the 49ers released the two-time Super Bowl champion, NFL insider Ari Meirov announced.

“The #49ers have released WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling from IR with an injury settlement,” Meirov posted to X.

The #49ers have released WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling from IR with an injury settlement. pic.twitter.com/6IuIJhoj3l

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 19, 2025

He won both Super Bowls during his tenure with the Kansas City Chiefs, hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy in 2022 and 2023. The 31-year-old was a solid contributor for the Chiefs in that pair of seasons, recording 63 receptions for 1,002 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to fans if Valdes-Scantling is picked up by another team in need of an experienced receiver once he recovers from this injury (or even beforehand). Last season, he totaled 411 yards and four touchdowns across stints with the New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills.

What WRs Are Active on the 49ers’ Roster After This Move?

With so many pass-catchers out or no longer on the roster, who will backup quarterback Mac Jones have to throw to on Sunday?

1) Jauan Jennings

Jauan Jennings has had his own injury troubles this season, as he has suited up for just four games thus far. While he returned last week, he revealed after the game that he’s playing through five broken ribs and a sprained ankle. He logged 53 of 69 offensive snaps but finished with one catch for seven yards on three targets.

This season, Jennings has 10 catches for 136 yards and a touchdown. Last year, he posted career-highs in receptions (77), yards (975), and touchdowns (six) across 15 games. Jennings is the No. 68-ranked receiver in PFSN’s WR Impact metric.

2) Kendrick Bourne

Kendrick Bourne is a journeyman wideout in the league who signed with the 49ers on September 9, 2025. Not even a month into his tenure with the team, he’ll be relied upon as San Francisco’s WR1 on Thursday.

Through five games, Bourne has caught 23 passes for 371 yards — becoming Jones’ favorite target. He’s in his ninth NFL season and was initially signed out of college as an undrafted rookie free agent by the 49ers back in 2017.

Through six games, Bourne is the No. 26-ranked receiver in PFSN’s WR Impact metric. He ranks seventh in the NFL in yards per target (11.2) and 11th in yards after catch over expectation (2.09).

3) Demarcus Robinson

The 49ers signed Demarcus Robinson out of free agency this offseason, and he made his 2025 debut in their Week 4 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, catching one pass for 20 yards.

Robinson has been a steady contributor throughout his career. In 2024, he played for the Los Angeles Rams and finished with 31 receptions for 505 yards and seven touchdowns.

4) Skyy Moore

Skyy Moore is in his fourth season in the league. Once a highly touted prospect, he was selected by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He never lived up to expectations in Kansas City, and the 49ers traded for him in August.

Moore has caught one pass in 2025 for 10 yards and hasn’t started a single game for the team.