As the San Francisco 49ers prepare for the upcoming season, they are faced with critical decisions regarding their wide receiver roster. Vic Tafur from The Athletic reported that the team must choose between six key players, including KhaDarel Hodge, a recent free-agent signing known for his special teams skills.
Hodge, who signed a one-year contract on August 5, was projected to be cut from the 53-man roster. The 49ers are expected to keep Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, De’Zhaun Stribling, Jordan Watkins, Demarcus Robinson, and Christian Kirk. Despite Hodge being favored by defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, strong performances from Robinson and Kirk's recovery from injury influenced the decision to potentially let Hodge go.
Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 210 pounds, Hodge transitioned from quarterback to wide receiver during his college career. He earned All-SWAC honors at Prairie View A&M and has played in 118 career games, including a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams. The 49ers also recently re-signed Deebo Samuel for one year at $4.1 million after losing first-round pick Ricky Pearsall to season-ending knee surgery.
Further updates on the final roster decisions are still pending.