Young WR trying to accomplish a feat no 49ers player has in 15 years

The San Francisco 49ers have some talented players at the top of their wide receiver depth chart, which will make the battle for depth spots a competitive one throughout the rest of training camp and the preseason.

Among those players pushing for a spot is Jacob Cowing, who the team took in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft after a collegiate career split between UTEP, where he earned All-CUSA honors twice, and Arizona.

As a rookie, Cowing appeared in 15 games, but only caught four passes for 80 yards. He missed the entire 2025 season due to a hamstring injury that he suffered in preseason.

Now, as he returns to the field and looks to make the roster, he is working on one specific area of his game and has one goal in mind.

"I would say special teams, punt return, being able to track the ball, looking at coverage and how guys fly down the field and how they pursue and stuff like that," Cowing told 49ers digital editor Brooke Evans during a recent on-field interview . "I'm trying to add that too and get better at that. I'm trying to make something shake. I heard that a punt return (touchdown) hasn't happened here in quite some time, so I'm trying to be the first one to do it."

No 49ers player has returned a punt for a touchdown since Ted Ginn Jr. did so in a 2011 game against the Seattle Seahawks , putting the team up 33-17. Interestingly, Ginn also had a 102-yard kick return touchdown earlier in the same game.

Skyy Moore served as the team's punt returner in 2025, and with his departure, the job is open for anyone to win. If Cowing can be a difference-maker on special teams, he could separate himself as a depth option in the receiver room.

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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Young WR trying to accomplish a feat no 49ers player has in 15 years

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