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HOUSTON, TEXAS – AUGUST 25: Malik Turner #17 of the San Francisco 49ers in action against the Houston Texans during a preseason game at NRG Stadium on August 25, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
On Tuesday August 12, 2025 the San Francisco 49ers held a tryout for four free agent wide receivers: Jalen Camp, Frank Darby, Kwamie Lassiter II and Malik Turner.
The 49ers had tryouts with four receivers today:Jalen CampFrank DarbyKwamie LassiterMalik Turner
Quarterback Spencer Petras came in on a tryout to throw the passes to the WRs.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) August 12, 2025
The workout comes amidst a slew of injury news for the 49ers. Kyle Shanahan recently estimated that star wideout Brandon Aiyuk wouldn’t be ready to return until Week 6, and promising rookie wide receiver Jordan Watkins will be out a month with a high ankle sprain.
That leaves the 49ers with only 6 healthy receivers. Only one of those healthy players is projected to be a starter or even a second stringer: Ricky Pearsall.
So the 49ers are desperately in need of pass catchers. Not just players that will be healthy for week one, but even just guys that will help them get through training camp.
The 49ers also brought in quarterback Spencer Petras on a tryout to throw the receivers passes. Petras previously threw during another 49ers receiver tryout.
Which Wideout Should the 49ers Sign?
None of the wide receivers that the 49ers held a workout with have much experience as NFL players, or would be considered top prospects.
Malik Turner has by far the most NFL experience. He’s played in 44 games across five NFL seasons, with three starts. In total in his career, he has 29 catches for 414 yards and 3 touchdowns.
He also has previous experience with the 49ers. Turner spent part of the 2022 season on the 49ers practice squad, and appeared in three games for San Francisco. He wasn’t thrown a pass.
Turner also spent some time with the 49ers in 2024. He was signed and subsequently released with an injury settlement in August and then spent a few weeks in October and November on the 49ers practice squad.
Head Coach Kyle Shanahan’s familiarity with Turner and Turner’s NFL experience may give him a leg up on the 49ers’ other potential wide receiver signings.
But he’s also the oldest of the group at 29, and his history with the 49ers could always work against him if Shanahan and the coaching staff decide they’ve seen enough of Malik Turner.
If they go in a different direction than Turner, the 49ers should sign Darby on paper. He spent 2024 with the St. Louis Battlehawks of the UFL. His numbers weren’t remarkable. But he had a good game in the Battlehawks’ playoff game with 2 catches for 53 yards. He also has experience with the 49ers, having spent a good chunk of 2024 training camp with them.
His important role in a crucial game is a good sign that he improved as the season progressed. If anyone is likely to be in good shape for an NFL return, it’s 27-year old Darby.
Why Don’t the 49ers Sign A More Established Star?
The 49ers seem to be stuck in a cycle of signing unproven wide receivers just for them to get injured or cut a few days later.
So that begs the question, why don’t they sign a more established star free agent like Amari Cooper or Gabe Davis?
The main answer is the salary cap. The 49ers don’t want to navigate the consequences of taking on the expense that Cooper or Davis would pose.
The Niners are hesitant to even pay an in-house wide receiver, Jauan Jennings, in the middle of a contract dispute. Bringing in an expensive outside option when the Jennings situation is unresolved would be … dramatic.
And the Jennings situation may not be close to a resolution, according to trusted Bay Area sports insider Tim Kawakami. So, the chances of getting Davis or Cooper in San Francisco are really slim.
1 thing I know after checking around on this: The 49ers are extremely uninterested in paying out another big-money WR contract–to Jennings or anybody. https://t.co/Ne0Ktdr8f5
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) August 12, 2025
49ers fans, which free agent wide receiver do you think the team should sign?
Ethan Inman is a sports journalist covering the San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco Giants and Las Vegas Raiders for heavy.com. He also co-hosts a college football podcast for The Voice of College Football, and writes about the NBA and MLB. He has previously covered the USC Trojans, the NHL, college baseball, and the intersection of sports and popular culture for other publications. He is based in the greater Los Angeles area. More about Ethan Inman
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