The San Francisco 49ers brought in several wide receivers this offseason after losing Jauan Jennings, Kendrick Bourne, Skyy Moore and Trent Taylor. With that, there's been an interesting battle going on in camp that could leave some talented wideouts without spots on the 53-man roster.
However, one of those young wide receivers fighting for a job may have earned a roster spot with one play during San Francisco's preseason matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.
With three minutes to go in the second quarter, Chargers punter J.K. Scott booted a ball 52 yards to the 49ers' 17-yard line, where Jacob Cowing fielded it. The 25-year-old ran to the left, got the edge and returned the ball 83 yards for a touchdown.
JACOB COWING WITH THE 83-YARD PUNT RETURN TD 🏠
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Cowing, the former fourth-round pick out of Arizona, caught four passes for 80 yards as a rookie in 2024, while serving as the team's primary punt returner. However, he missed the entire 2025 season with an injury.
With the 49ers searching for their first punt return touchdown since 2011, Cowing's performance on Thursday may be enough to earn him a spot on the roster in 2026 as a returner and depth wide receiver.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Struggling 49ers WR may have earned a roster spot with this highlight play
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