The San Francisco 49ers are one of the most beat-up teams in the NFL, and yet, they have managed to race out to a 2-0 start in the 2025 campaign. They will face their toughest challenge yet in Week 3, though, as they will take on the Arizona Cardinals, who are also undefeated, in a pivotal NFC West matchup.
The Niners are dealing with injuries across the board, and one spot that has been hit the hardest is wide receiver. Unsurprisingly, the front office made a move to elevate a player at this spot ahead of their upcoming game, but to the surprise of many folks, they opted to elevate Malik Turner to the active squad instead of Russell Gage.
49ers Elevate Wide Receiver Malik Turner to Active Roster
From Week 1, the 49ers have been shorthanded at wide receiver this season. Their top playmaker at this position, Brandon Aiyuk, is still recovering from a torn ACL and MCL he suffered last season, and he isn’t expected to be on the field until Week 6 or 7. Fourth-round rookie Jordan Watkins has yet to make his NFL debut due to a calf injury, and Demarcus Robinson is suspended for the first three games of the season.
Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall have been leading the pack here, but Jennings has been battling his own injuries, and reports indicate that he isn’t going to play in Week 3 against the Cardinals. That means San Francisco will be even more shorthanded at this spot than they have been in recent weeks.
With that in mind, the team needs help, and that’s where Turner comes in. While San Fran has a more proven option in Gage on their practice squad, the front office opted to elevate Turner, who hasn’t played in an NFL game since 2022, to the active roster for this game, as he figures to help on offense and on special teams in Week 3.
Malik Turner, not Russell Gage, got the 49ers’ practice squad elevation at WR,” David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard shared in a post on X. “Turner is a bigger body with more special teams value — has done a good job at gunner in the past.”
49ers Facing Tall Task in Week 3 vs. Cardinals
GettyNEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SEPTEMBER 14: Mac Jones #10 of the San Francisco 49ers is congratulated by Christian McCaffrey #23 after passing the ball for a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the second half in the game at Caesars Superdome on September 14, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
The injuries the 49ers are dealing with aren’t limited to the wide receiver position. Starting quarterback Brock Purdy is going to miss his second straight game, while tight end George Kittle is on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. San Francisco had enough firepower to overcome the lowly New Orleans Saints in Week 2, but will the same be true when they take on the Cardinals?
If Mac Jones can play as well as he did under center against New Orleans, San Fran will have a shot to pick up its third straight win to begin the new season. With Jennings set to miss this game, though, that will make things even more difficult for Jones and company. Kickoff scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET, and it will be worth seeing who is on the team’s final inactives list, as that could play a big role in determining who wins this game.
49ers Elevate Veteran 4-TD Wide Receiver Ahead of Cardinals Game