The San Francisco 49ers are bringing back a familiar face. Jordan Schultz reported that the 49ers are signing wide receiver Dante Pettis, who they selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Washington. Pettis has floated around the league since his initial stint in San Francisco, spending time with the Giants, Bears, and Saints before entering the 2026 season as a free agent.

The move comes at a time when the 49ers’ wide receiver room has been decimated by injuries. Christian Kirk, Ricky Pearsall, De’Zhaun Stribling, and DeMarcus Robinson have all dealt with ailments this season. Most recently, No. 1 wide receiver Mike Evans suffered a rib injury and had to leave this past Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals early. Evans’ injury was considered day-to-day, so he should be back in the fold pretty soon.

It’s not as much of a concern as some of the other guys in the position group, but it was another blow to a room that did not need to suffer one.

This move is about more than receivers

Look, this isn’t just a move that signifies receiver play. This also signifies special teams play. One of my losers from the Cardinals game was defensive back and returner Siran Neal. Neal had the debacle on his punt return that resulted in a fumble recovered by Arizona, and the 49ers clearly need an answer there.

Pettis brings special teams ability. He can return punts and kicks, and San Francisco may need that out of him at the very least. I don’t know how much he would play right now in their actual wide receiver room, but he could get on the field right away for his return ability. That’s a big deal for a team that just watched a return fumble nearly cost them a game.

Keeping Deebo Samuel off return duty

The 49ers have also used Deebo Samuel in the return game, and with the state of the health of their receiver room, they may not want to continue doing that. I would expect once Kirk and Robinson get back, maybe we might see Deebo back there some more. But until then, that could be the role Dante Pettis fills for the 49ers.

This is a guy that Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch are very familiar with. Quarterback Brock Purdy is not, as the two have never crossed paths. But again, I don’t think Pettis will get a ton of run as a wide receiver right now. I think this is someone to provide depth in the room. Someone who knows the offense in case he has to go out there, but can also contribute right away on special teams.

It’s a smart move by the 49ers, who desperately needed another body added to that receiver room and placed on the active roster to get out there on the field on Sundays in some capacity. San Francisco is banged up, and Pettis gives them flexibility on both sides of the equation. I expect him to carve out a role on special teams immediately while the 49ers get healthy at receiver.