The Niners need to light a (healthy) fire under this third-year pro.
The San Francisco 49ers face no shortage of drama at wide receiver this offseason, particularly with the hard reality Brandon Aiyuk’s days with the franchise are soon coming to an end. Additionally, an increasingly likely free-agent departure of veteran receiver Jauan Jennings is in the folds, which puts an immense amount of pressure on the Niners’ remaining (and largely untested) crop of rostered wideouts.
Including one not frequently discussed over the last two years, Jacob Cowing.
Cowing, the fourth-round pick from the 2024 NFL Draft out of Arizona, has scantly seen the field since being drafted. He had four catches on six targets for 80 yards his rookie season before a nagging hamstring injury sidelined him for all of 2025.
Now, in light of fellow 2024 rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall’s own injury problems, the pressure on Cowing to finally make an impact couldn’t be greater.
Even general manager John Lynch suggested as much, albeit in a subtle manner.
John Lynch quietly calls out Jacob Cowing’s injury absence
Speaking from the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana, general manager John Lynch was asked about San Francisco’s potential wide receiver shortages.
The GM acknowledged both Pearsall and Cowing’s injury histories but openly admitted the former would be a “fine player” despite missing chunks of time the first two years.
Cowing, on the other hand, received some subtle attention in a different way.
“Jacob Cowing’s a guy that we’ve had, and we’ve like for a couple years,” Lynch told reporters. “He hasn’t been on to be able to be on the field much because of his hamstring ailments.”
In part, Lynch is speaking a plain truth. Cowing wasn’t on the field at all last season, and his presence was hardly felt in year one. And while it’s good for Lynch to admit the 49ers “like” the third-year receiver, it’s not hard to recognize the pressure the front office will put on Cowing heading into a critical juncture.
Otherwise, the Niners need a contingency plan.
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