49ers Must Already Be Regretting Signing This Veteran Player

There's no way they aren't by now.

Aug 20, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan walks to the field prior to a pre-season game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

It’s starting to become clear which players the 49ers will retain for their final 53-man roster.

They’ll have until Aug. 30 before coming to make any decisions. However, some players have made it an easy one for the 49ers. One of those players is veteran receiver Christian Kirk.

He practiced one time in training camp, which was on opening day. Since then, he’s been out with a calf injury. Usually, a player who’s been out that long will be a lock to be cut.

Yet Kyle Shanahan seems to have a soft spot for Kirk. Rather than making the obvious choice to cut him, Shanahan said it’s possible the 49ers will place Kirk on Injured Reserve. 

That way, they don’t have to let go of one of their younger receivers who’s actually been playing right now. Still, the fact that Kirk has been out this whole time has to make the 49ers regret signing him.

At this point, the 49ers threw away $3 million. Kirk is incredibly far behind in establishing himself in a complicated offense and building a rapport with Brock Purdy. 

Even if he mentally knows the playbook by now, he still has to go out there and apply it. That’s what training camp is supposed to be for, and since he’s been out with an injury, he’s bound to struggle.

And let’s say Kirk eventually comes back and plays well. Who’s to say he won’t get hurt again? He’s not an old receiver, but his body might as well be. He can never stay healthy.

Is he all of a sudden going to sustain it when he comes back from his calf injury? Absolutely not. He’s going to need to work on getting back in shape again as well. There’s a lot going against Kirk.

Not to mention he’s buried on the depth chart. So, why on earth are the 49ers retaining him? Well, it’s because they don’t want to look foolish for cutting a guy after paying him $3 million. 

As much as they’re justified in doing it, and it’s not a high cost at all, they do care about optics. Cutting Kirk would make them eat crow. Besides, Shanahan probably thinks Kirk can help them later in the season.

Injuries could start to pile up at receiver, or the young players are struggling. In any case, Kirk isn’t getting cut. He'll certainly be placed on Injured Reserve with the hope of returning by midseason.

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