The 49ers are closing out their preseason finale against the Chargers at Levi’s Stadium in a matchup carrying heavy weight for Kyle Shanahan and Jim Harbaugh as they shape their 53-man rosters before next week’s deadline. Through the first two quarters, the Chargers controlled the tempo, and the scoreboard read 13-6. Even though Shanahan’s prized key starters were sidelined, it was a concerning look for the backups, who looked shaky while fighting desperately to prove their worth. One thing that is crystal clear is that Shanahan has yet to put his WR woes behind him. Whispers across the analyst circuit predict disaster for one wide receiver whose chances now hang because of a single misstep. The brutal consensus reads—he may have already kissed his spot goodbye.

49ers reporter Matt Maico took to X and posted, “Junior Bergen really hurt his chances with a muffed punt. While one play should not make or break the decision, it sure looks as if Skyy Moore will open the season in that role.” The reaction was instant across social media, with another post declaring, “Safe to say Junior Bergen isn’t making the 49ers 53-man roster.” Wondering why everyone is reacting to one single play? 

Courtesy to the injury bug plaguing the 49ers’ WR room, Shanahan has yet to finalise his starter. It was a crushing turn for Bergen, especially after the 49ers traded for Skyy Moore from the Chiefs only days earlier. –Moore is most likely to emerge as the most reliable option, although he has never put up huge numbers with the Chiefs, he still has two SB rings (with the Chiefs) under his belt.

Until that moment, Junior Bergen appeared to be trending upward and carving out a role. In his Week 1 preseason debut against the Broncos, Bergen posted two kick returns for 40 yards and a sharp 28-yard punt return that left defenders flat-footed. Montana fans know that burst well, as Bergen set the FCS record with eight punt return touchdowns in his Grizzly career. Yet with the regular season nearing, the muffed punt now casts a long shadow.

Shanahan’s desperate trade with the Chiefs might actually be what works for him when the regular season starts.

Kyle Shanahan’s full-blown WR crisis

Everyone trusted Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers when they traded Deebo Samuel to Washington, leaning on what seemed like a loaded receiver room. Few foresaw the chaos that would follow. Analyst Grant Cohn remarked, “I think I understand why the Niners have so many injury issues.” Fans looked at joint practice tapes with the Broncos and declared the team is not warming up enough, hence dealing with injuries. At one point, the injured list was staggering at 27! Brandon Aiyuk remains limited in his ACL and MCL recovery, Jauan Jennings is sidelined with a calf injury, Jordan Watkins turned an ankle, and Jacob Cowing aggravated an undisclosed problem. Ricky Pearsall cut through the noise, saying, “I think it’s just definitely not normal.”

The front office has scrambled to manage the fallout. John Lynch responded quickly, bringing in Skyy Moore while letting go of Nate Sudfeld and Demone Harris, underlining that roster spots are wide open. Veteran names mean little if players cannot stay on the field. With Demarcus Robinson facing a three-game suspension and only one preseason outing left, San Francisco enters September facing a familiar question: Is durability a bigger obstacle than skill?

Lynch made it clear that the move for Moore was not meant to undermine Jennings. “No message,” he insisted. “We like the player, Skyy. We love Jauan.” At the same time, he did not ignore the reality of practice and preparation. “Players got to practice, but if they’re not healthy enough to do it, they can’t. So that’s kind of where we’re at with Jauan right now.”

Moore’s résumé offers as many questions as answers. Last season, he failed to record a reception, though he appeared in six games before suffering a season-ending core muscle injury in October 2024. Now healthy again, the 24-year-old wideout is being pushed into a starting role simply because injuries have shredded the San Francisco depth chart. That leaves one pressing question for the Faithful: what exactly can Skyy Moore deliver in red and gold?