49ers bolster receiver depth by signing Marshall Jr. Originally published on NBC Sports Bay Area

SANTA CLARA – The 49ers have strengthened one of their, if not their, most uncertain positions ahead of the 2024 NFL season.

San Francisco is signing former Carolina Panthers second-round wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr., coach Kyle Shanahan and President of Football Operations/General Manager John Lynch confirmed Wednesday. The news was first reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz.

Marshall, a speedster from LSU, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.40 seconds at the 2021 NFL Scouting Combine and was selected No. 59 by Carolina in the draft that year.

Marshall started 16 of his 36 career games in his three seasons with the Panthers and recorded 64 total catches for 767 receiving yards (12.0 Y/R average) and one touchdown.

The 6’2″ and 200-pound receiver will give the 49ers important depth on the practice squad as they continue to work on solving the problem of disgruntled wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

Shanahan and Lynch were both pleased with Marshall’s signing and are convinced that San Francisco could be the right place for the 24-year-old, who wants to give his career a new direction.

“We’re excited to have him here on our practice squad,” Shanahan said of Marshall. “We felt that way when he came out. We had him at the top of our list in college and to give him the opportunity to be here on the practice squad and see him, I think he can help our team.”

“That’s just a good football player that we were fortunate to bring into the building,” Lynch added. “I don’t know what was going on in Carolina. I know I was on the phone with Terrace, (wide receivers coach) Leonard Hankerson and Kyle and just told him how we’re handling things, what we think of him coming out of college and that this could be a great landing spot for him.”

“He’s got to earn everything, but it’s a great place for receivers to come and thrive. Whatever your best thing is, I think you’ll find it here. We’re excited for this opportunity and our practice squad.”

The 49ers will have seven wide receivers on their initial 53-man roster: Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing, Chris Conley and Ronnie Bell.

If Aiyuk is traded soon or the 49ers lose one of their receivers due to injury, Marshall would likely be the first in line for promotion to the active roster.

Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast