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Heading into training camp, the San Francisco 49ers are barren at wide receiver. What was once a strength is now a glaring hole on the roster. Brandon Aiyuk and Ricky Pearsall are both set to begin training camp on the active/physically unable to perform list.
That leaves a receiver room made up of a disgruntled Jauan Jennings and, well, not much else.
While that may be enough to send some fans into panic mode, it brings a unique opportunity for some lesser-known 49ers receivers in training camp. With the top names sidelined for the time being, one underrated player has the chance to steal a roster spot in the coming weeks.
49ers receiver Isaiah Neyor could win a roster spot in training camp
Every offseason, well over a hundred undrafted free agents are signed. Most never end up making an NFL roster. Those who do usually spend their careers on the bench or as special teams regulars. But every year, a couple of UDFAs become serious contributors for their teams.
One of those players may be on the 49ers’ training camp roster, and nobody is talking about him.
San Francisco signed six UDFAs shortly after April’s draft. One of those players was former Nebraska receiver Isaiah Neyor. If Neyor can perform well in training camp, he could start the season with a role in the 49ers’ offense.
Neyor was never a particularly productive receiver in college. He spent three seasons at Wyoming, one at Texas, and one at Nebraska. In those five years, Neyor only cracked 500 receiving yards once. His best season came in 2021, when he totaled 878 yards and 12 touchdowns for Wyoming.
It was at the NFL Combine that Neyor finally made a name for himself. He measured in at 6’4″ and 218 pounds, with 34 3/8″ arms. With a 4.4-second forty-yard dash, Neyor proved himself to be a physical specimen capable of competing in the NFL.
But teams still weren’t convinced. Neyor went undrafted before signing with San Francisco.
He’ll have another chance to prove himself at training camp. With Aiyuk and Pearsall injured, Neyor should at least get a few extra reps to show what he can do.
But even with their absences, Neyor still has a mountain to climb if he wants to make the roster. The 49ers added plenty of receivers this offseason, including free-agent signing Demarcus Robinson, fourth-round pick Jordan Watkins, and seventh-round pick Junior Bergen.
To make the final roster, Neyor will likely need to overtake at least one of those players. He has the tools to do it. Neyor is physical, both in contested catch situations and as a blocker. If he can showcase that physicality while using his athleticism to make plays in training camp, it may be enough to steal a roster spot.
nho123