The San Francisco 49ers are making adjustments to their wide receiver group ahead of a crucial road game against the Buffalo Bills.
On November 29, the team announced via an online press release that they had waived second-year wide receiver Ronnie Bell. Bell was originally drafted by the 49ers in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
The move was finalized shortly after two other roster changes: the release of offensive lineman Cameron Erving from the practice squad and the re-signing of a familiar face.
“The San Francisco 49ers announced they have signed OL Sebastian Gutierrez to the team’s practice squad. In order to make room on the practice squad, the team released OL Cameron Erving,” stated the 49ers’ official site.
While practice squad shuffles are common, Bell’s release following Gutierrez’s signing is noteworthy. This change leaves the 49ers with five active receivers on their 53-man roster:
Deebo Samuel
Ricky Pearsall
Jauan Jennings
Chris Conley
Jacob Cowing
Additionally, the team has three receivers on the practice squad: Terique Owens, Russell Gage, and Trent Taylor. It’s expected that one of these players could be elevated to the active roster for the Bills game.
Bell Struggles to Stick in San Francisco
Ronnie Bell’s NFL journey has been challenging. Active for 26 regular season games over two years, he wasn’t involved in any playoff games during the 49ers’ 2024 Super Bowl run.
In 2023, Bell caught six passes for 68 yards, including three touchdowns. However, his primary role was on special teams. His future with the team depended heavily on excelling in that area and making the most of limited offensive opportunities.
Week 3 of the 2024 season offered Bell a significant chance to contribute. He was targeted three times against the Los Angeles Rams but dropped two passes. This misstep led to a diminished role, with Bell seeing only three more targets for the rest of the season.
Bell’s decline in special teams participation was also telling. In 2023, he played 26% of the 49ers’ special teams snaps, but that number fell to just 6% in 2024. He was twice listed as a healthy scratch during the season, further signaling his struggles to find a role.
49ers Bring Back Gutierrez
Sebastian Gutierrez is a familiar name for 49ers fans, as he was with the team earlier this year. The 26-year-old spent the 2024 offseason with San Francisco before being released on September 2.
Gutierrez has bounced between practice squads throughout his three NFL seasons, most recently with the Indianapolis Colts. Following his release on November 25, the 49ers brought him back into the fold.
While Gutierrez is likely to remain a practice squad option, his presence is significant given the injury concerns surrounding offensive tackle Trent Williams. If the 49ers need to elevate an offensive lineman, they’ll consider Gutierrez, Isaac Alarcon, or Drake Nugent.
