Despite being hit hard by injuries at the wide receiver position, the Kansas City Chiefs have managed to face several opponents dealing with similar issues.
They played against a Bengals team missing Tee Higgins and have an upcoming game against the Buccaneers, who are without Chris Godwin and likely Mike Evans.
The Chiefs also matched up against a 49ers team that saw all its starting receivers sidelined by halftime.
Brandon Aiyuk is now out for the season with an ACL tear, and Jauan Jennings has been dealing with a hip injury that kept him out of Week 7 and has prevented him from practicing this week.
Deebo Samuel, who was hospitalized due to pneumonia, has returned to practice and could be on track to play against the Cowboys.
Samuel’s status has become crucial for the 49ers, who extended Aiyuk to a $30 million-per-year deal only to see him and Samuel struggle in the season following their new contracts.
The team also has first-round pick Ricky Pearsall back in action after he was wounded in a robbery attempt earlier this year.
Despite these challenges, The Athletic’s Matt Barrows does not expect the defending NFC champions to add a wide receiver at the trade deadline.
Kendrick Bourne, whom the 49ers discussed trading for with the Patriots during the Aiyuk trade saga over the summer, has expressed a preference to stay in New England rather than return to his original team.
Although it’s unclear whether the 49ers will seek help at the position, if they do make a move (as they often have at past deadlines, adding players like Chase Young, Charles Omenihu, Emmanuel Sanders, and Jimmy Garoppolo), Barrows believes it will likely be in a different area.
On the running back front, San Francisco has not yet made a move to cover for Christian McCaffrey’s nagging Achilles injury. McCaffrey, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, has a decent chance to return in Week 10 after the team’s bye.
Two former 49ers, now with the Dolphins, would be potential fits: Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson.
According to ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques, Wilson is the more likely trade candidate.
Although he re-signed with the Dolphins on a two-year deal with a veteran-minimum base salary for 2024 ($1.13 million), Wilson has only been given eight carries this season.
He was traded from San Francisco to Miami during the 2022 season, in which he posted an 860-yard campaign. Given the number of teams employing a 49ers-like scheme, Wilson could be an intriguing addition.
The Packers, while not in a selling position, have received interest in both Preston Smith and Andre Dillard, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.
Smith, 31, has started every game this season but has a snap rate of 56%, which would be a career low with the Packers. Trading Smith would be surprising, especially with 2023 first-round pick Lukas Van Ness on the roster.
Dillard, on the other hand, has not played an offensive snap this season. The former Eagles first-rounder has garnered deadline interest in the past, and with Jordan Morgan in reserve, a trade involving Dillard might be possible.
After the trade of Roy Robertson-Harris to the Seahawks, Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said he did not expect the team to make any additional deals.
However, given Jacksonville’s poor start, teams might still come calling. Despite the potential for a regime change in 2025, ESPN’s Michael DiRocco notes the Jaguars do not see this as a rebuild situation, so a significant sell-off at the deadline is unlikely.
