5 Things To Watch In 49ers’ Final Preseason Game

Who Will Be The #3 WR?

What was an afterthought a few weeks ago is now a serious questions. Is Stevie Johnson the #3 receiver on the depth chart after Michael Crabtree and Anquan Boldin? Or has he been surpassed by someone else?

Jun 17, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver

(84) returns to the locker room during minicamp at the 49ers practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Both Bruce Ellington, the rookie 4th round pick, and Kassim Osgood are multi-faceted players in that they can play on special teams as well as at wide receiver. In fact, Ellington has been the team’s leading receiver this preseason totaling nine catches for 86 yards. He can return both kickoffs and punts as well, so he may be putting Lamichael James’ roster spot in jeopardy as well.

Even former San Francisco 49ers draft pick Brandon Lloyd — most known for some unbelievable catches during the 49ers’ quarterback heyday with names like Tim Rattay and Ken Dorsey —  has had a good showing this preseason. He has even showed flashes of being legitimate threat downfield against Denver’s top corner Aqib Talib, something which the 49ers have desperately needed for some time now.

Quinton Patton is also in that mix and after a disappointing rookie season –albeit amidst probably too much hype — he is showing signs of improvement. So much so that he was the #3 receiver against the San Diego Chargers behind Crabtree and Boldin while Johnson was relegated to second-string duties.

When it’s all said and done though it’s Jim Harbaugh‘s call, so perhaps all that is this tweet: