Tag: Ronnie Bell

Maligned former 49ers WR finds new home with NFC contender

Ronnie Bell is gone.

There will be at least one minor change coming to the San Francisco 49ers receiving corps in the 2025 season.

2023 seventh-round pick WR Ronnie Bell had a tumultuous couple of years with the 49ers, and now he’s found a new change of scenery with another NFC contender.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Bell is signing with the Detroit Lions on a reserve/future contract after they were ousted from the postseason Saturday in a loss to the Washington Commanders.

Bell’s tenure with the 49ers got off to a strong start in the 2023 preseason when he posted a handful of electric plays with the ball in his hands. That success didn’t translate to the regular season though, and he never cracked the regular rotation in the 49ers’ receiving corps.

There were openings for him in 2024, but Bell struggled in training camp and the preseason. Then he had a huge drop in Week 3 during a brutal 49ers loss to the Los Angeles Rams, which may have been the final straw for the former late-round draft pick. He finished the year on the 49ers’ practice squad after they released him in late November.

With no contractual obligation to the 49ers, Bell opted to find a new club back in Michigan where he attended college. This may be best for Bell’s career since it’s clear he has talent, but the struggles with San Francisco might have compounded to the point that he was never going to get right as a pro there.

In two seasons Bell played in 26 games for the 49ers. He caught eight of his 19 targets for 90 yards and three touchdowns.

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Lions sign former Michigan WR to a reserve/future contract

Bell was a 7th-round pick by the 49ers in 2023 and caught 3 TD passes as a rookie

The Lions have added another name to the growing list of players signed to reserve/future contracts now that the season has ended. Former San Francisco 49ers wideout Ronnie Bell agreed to sign with the Lions.

Bell played collegiately at Michigan and was known for his playmaking skills while with the Wolverines. He was selected by the 49ers in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL draft. After playing in 17 games as a rookie and catching six passes–three of which went for touchdowns–Bell spent most of the 2024 campaign on San Francisco’s practice squad.

Reserve/future contracts are for players with NFL experience who did not finish the season on an active 53-man roster. The Lions signed 11 of their own practice squad players to those deals on Monday, with Bell joining on Tuesday.

49ers sign Christian McCaffrey’s replacement, add WR to practice squad

The 49ers have a new running back.

The San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday announced how they’d replace running back Christian McCaffrey.

In a slew of roster moves the 49ers placed McCaffrey on IR, claimed RB Israel Abanikanda off waivers from the New York Jets and signed wide receiver Ronnie Bell to the practice squad.

McCaffrey suffered a season-ending PCL injury in his knee during the 49ers’ Week 13 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated on Monday McCaffrey would go on IR with only five games to go and McCaffrey expected to miss at least six weeks.

While Abanikanda will replace him on the roster, the expectation is that rookie RB Isaac Guerendo will carry a lion’s share of the workload in the backfield. Abanikanda may work his way into the backup RB role depending on how the team feels about RB Patrick Taylor who is on the practice squad and spent the first nine weeks on the active roster before McCaffrey returned.

Abanikanda was a fifth-round pick of the Jets in the 2023 draft. He played in six games as a rookie and churned out 70 yards on 22 carries.

Bell was waived by the 49ers on Friday before Week 13. The 2023 seventh-round pick gives San Francisco a reliable internal option if they need depth at WR or on special teams.

We may see additional roster moves in the backfield with RB Jordan Mason also potentially hitting IR after suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 13.

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49ers waive maligned former 7th-round WR before Week 13

Ronnie Bell is gone.

The San Francisco 49ers on Friday announced wide receiver Ronnie Bell was waived.

Bell was a seventh-round pick in the 2023 draft and he struggled to carve out a regular role in a crowded 49ers WR corps.

He played in nine games this season and primarily contributed on special teams. Bell caught two passes for 22 yards this season on six targets. As a rookie he hauled in six receptions for 68  yards and three touchdowns.

Bell also contributed as a punt returner in his first year, but he was eclipsed by rookies Jacob Cowing and Ricky Pearsall at that position.

The 49ers are getting healthier at WR which made Bell expendable. Pearsall is joined by Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings atop the depth chart. Chris Conley and Jacob Cowing contribute on special teams. With injuries elsewhere, the club can utilize his roster spot to help in the trenches on either side of the ball.

Bell drew the ire of 49ers fans after a key drop in the 49ers’ Week 3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He could conceivably be a practice squad addition if he clears waivers.

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Brandon Aiyuk contract could be bad news for one 49ers WR

The 49ers may be able to let go of one of their WRs now that they know Brandon Aiyuk is back.

The San Francisco 49ers and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk ended their long standoff and agreed to a four-year extension that will get the All-Pro back on the field for the first time since the Super Bowl.

Aiyuk’s new contract and his return are undeniably good news for the 49ers. He’s their leading receiver from a season ago, and he’s the most well-rounded WR in their receiving corps. His ability to get open in all three levels of the passing game fundamentally changes the ways San Francisco’s passing attack can work.

His return may not be good news for everyone, though.

San Francisco kept seven wide receivers on its initial 53-man roster: Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing, Chris Conley and Ronnie Bell.

It appeared the seventh WR was there as insurance in the event Aiyuk was either not ready or not signed by the season opener.

Given how training camp and the preseason shook out, the odd man out once Aiyuk is back at full speed and available would be Bell. He had a handful of good practices, but a couple drops and a punt return hiccup defined his preseason performance.

The 49ers may need to open a roster spot soon, and that extra WR would make a logical cut candidate. San Francisco could aim to add to its defensive line depth. They’ll have to clear a roster spot for left tackle Trent Williams, who is holding out for a new deal, if/when they reach an agreement.

Six receivers is probably plenty for the 49ers, which may leave Bell on the outside looking in once the team needs a roster spot.

One thing that could keep Bell around is Pearsall’s lingering shoulder injury. He had hamstring and shoulder issues in camp that sidelined him for most of the preseason practice sessions. The No. 31 overall pick also didn’t play in any preseason games. If the 49ers aren’t confident in where he’s at in his development, Bell could be an asset they need to keep on the roster.

This is ultimately a good problem for the 49ers to have. Aiyuk’s return was their biggest box to check when the offseason started. They’ve now checked that, and they’ll deal with any roster fallout that comes as a result.

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Kyle Shanahan’s concerning answer on how 49ers would handle WR without Brandon Aiyuk

Kyle Shanahan’s glimpse at what the 49ers WR corps looks like without Brandon Aiyuk is …rough.

It looks like the San Francisco 49ers are making some progress in retaining All-Pro wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

The two sides are near a deal according to multiple reports, with just one key factor holding up a long-term contract for Aiyuk in San Francisco. Given how this rollercoaster has gone, it’s impossible to rule out the negotiations bleeding into Week 1 of the regular season.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan was on KNBR Wednesday and addressed how the team would handle the WR corps if Aiyuk doesn’t suit up for the season opener. He indicated Jauan Jennings was the most likely option to be the No. 2 receiver alongside WR Deebo Samuel. The rest of his answer underscored why the team needs to make sure Aiyuk is in uniform Week 1.

“Chris Conley’s had a hell of a camp,” Shanahan said. “He came on strong for us last year. Did a hell of a job for last year and made a number of plays going into the playoffs, in the playoffs and in the Super Bowl. He’s been on a lot of teams, too, where he’s done it for awhile. Then we’ve got these rookies who are all pushing, that I know will be there eventually, but they’re a little behind the eight ball with their injuries. But they’re guys we believe in, guys who are made of the right stuff.”

He also mentioned players like Ronnie Bell and Danny Gray. Both players are battling for a job on the back end of the roster. He also mentioned other veterans the 49ers have brought in.

Let’s put this in a little different perspective. This is what the receiving corps looks like Week 1 without Aiyuk:

Deebo Samuel
Jauan Jennings
Chris Conley
Ricky Pearsall
Jacob Cowing
Ronnie Bell/Danny Gray/Robbie Chosen

Samuel is an elite playmaker and a bonafide star.

Jennings has been great as a No. 3, and he’s been able to step up as a No. 2 at times in his career.

Conley has been good with the 49ers. Relying on him to be WR3 is probably asking too much.

Pearsall won’t play at all in the preseason and missed a ton of practice time with hamstring and shoulder injuries. Cowing shined in his preseason debut, but he’s also still getting in the swing of the offense after missing a prolonged period with a hamstring injury.

That final trio is more likely to contribute on special teams than in the passing game. Gray didn’t play at all last year. Chosen and Bell combined for 10 catches in 26 games.

Shanahan is a good enough offensive coach with enough weapons to potentially cobble together enough to win any game. However, that receiving corps would make life much easier for what figures to be a terrific New York Jets defense. Just because the 49ers might be able to make it work doesn’t mean they should.

Their receiving corps, and their chances to win Week 1, look much better when it’s Aiyuk and Samuel atop the depth chart. The 49ers need to do everything they can to push the deal with Aiyuk over the finish line in time for the season opener on Monday Night Football.

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49ers 2nd-year WR puts together strong practice amid heated battle for roster spot

One young 49ers wide receiver is making the case to stick around on the roster.

The 49ers depth chart at wide receiver looks mostly set.

It’s unclear whether they’ll keep five or six WRs at final cuts, but there are five mostly set in stone. Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall are all locks. Fourth-round pick Jacob Cowing can be penciled in for the fifth spot. That leaves a maximum of one spot left.

Wide receiver Ronnie Bell is one of the players vying for that potential sixth roster spot, and he made a strong case for it with his performance in Wednesday’s practice.

ESPN’s Nick Wagoner detailed on Twitter a couple of the highlights from Bell’s outing:

Bell has had his struggles in this camp but he made a pair of impressive, contested catches, including one from QB Brock Purdy on a deep out to the right sideline in which he climbed the ladder, high pointed the ball and held on even with CB Charvarius Ward right on top of him. Later, he caught a touchdown in red zone work from QB Brandon Allen despite CB Ambry Thomas being draped all over him.

This is good news for Bell, a 2023 seventh-round pick who posted six catches for 68 yards and three touchdowns last season. He can certainly put pressure on the 49ers coaching staff to keep a sixth WR by putting together good performances in the passing game.

He can ratchet that pressure up immensely by contributing more reliably as a punt returner. Finding a special teams role is going to be key for Bell no matter how many tough catches he makes in practice. Last season he took on some punt return duties, but he had trouble at times fielding kicks and holding on to the ball. Dependability is key for a punt returner and Bell was not that a season ago.

If he improves there while also showing out when given opportunities as a pass catcher, he’ll give San Francisco plenty of reasons to keep him as their sixth receiver.

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Watch: 49ers’ Sam Darnold finds rookie Ronnie Bell for TD vs. Rams

After running in a touchdown earlier, Sam Darnold added a touchdown pass in the first half against the Rams.

After sneaking in a rushing touchdown early, Sam Darnold got on the board through the air before halftime against the Los Angeles Rams.

With Brock Purdy is on the sideline, Sam Darnold rifled in a touchdown pass to rookie Ronnie Bell. From five yards out, Darnold spun a touchdown pass into a tight window for the rookie pass catcher out of Michigan.

With a touchdown through the air and on the ground from Darnold, the 49ers jumped out to a commanding 21-7 lead before halftime against their division rivals.

Via @49ers on Twitter:

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 

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49ers 2023 rookie report card is mostly useless at halfway point

The #49ers rookie report card is … bare.

The 49ers didn’t pick until late in the third round of the 2023 draft. It didn’t seem like a big deal considering they still walked away with a nine-player class that had a chance to fill a couple of key needs.

There was never a realistic possibility the 49ers’ rookie class had a wide swath of contributors. However, the early returns from that group can’t even be labeled as “not promising” because the reality is a vast majority of the players haven’t had any chance to make a real contribution.

We went through the rookie class and dished out “grades” for their first half performances. It won’t take long to notice a pattern:

49ers rookie WR Ronnie Bell could see increased role vs. Cardinals

Ronnie Bell could take on a significant role for the #49ers on offense vs. the Cardinals.

There haven’t been many opportunities that 49ers rookie wide receiver Ronnie Bell hasn’t taken advantage of as a pro. He dominated in the preseason as the team’s leading receiver and worked his way onto the roster thanks to his tenacity after the catch and ability to contribute on special teams. Now as injuries hit San Francisco’s receiving corps, Bell is once again seizing the uptick in opportunity.

In Week 3 with WR Brandon Aiyuk sidelined by a shoulder injury, the 49ers turned to their rookie seventh-round pick. He played a career-high 31 snaps and caught both of his targets for 24 yards and a touchdown (albeit one target wasn’t meant to find him, but a fortunate bounce off a deflection earned him a reception).

Aiyuk is set to return in Week 4, but now WR Deebo Samuel is dealing with a knee injury that could keep him out of action when the 49ers host the Cardinals.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Friday in a press conference said his confidence in Bell has grown throughout Bell’s time with the 49ers.

“He started in pre-season, started in practice, carried over to the games,” Shanahan said. “He’s been great in these first three weeks. Played really well without the ball and when he’s got opportunities, he has done exactly what he’s expected to do and gets better in practice every day and been real excited with him so far.”

San Francisco could once again be looking to Bell to make plays for them on offense. Samuel is questionable and WR Jauan Jennings is doubtful with a shin injury.

That could open the door for Bell to take on an outsized role as the No. 2 receiver against the Cardinals. It may seem like a lot for a rookie seventh-round selection to take on, but given how Bell has responded to challenges so far in the NFL, it’s hard to fault Shanahan and the coaching staff if they have enough faith in him to increase his opportunities.

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