Jacob Cowing hasn't caught a pass for the 49ers since Week 7 of his rookie year back in 2024, a 41-yard beauty against the Chiefs that feels like a lifetime ago. That single play, and 175 snaps his rookie season playing both wide receiver and returner, showed us the tantalizing allure of his speed. But man, the last two years have been brutal for the kid.
When He Plays, He Can FLY
Look, when Cowing actually gets on the field, he's pure electricity. That rookie year, he tore it up, not just as a receiver, but as a return specialist, logging a 32-yard kickoff return and multiple punt returns for double digits. The coaching staff trusting him as the starting punt returner from day one tells you everything about his ability with the ball. Shanahan's offense needs a guy like this: throw him a screen, send him deep, or let him cook on intermediate routes. The dude has an undeniable "another gear," seen clearly in OTAs when he got behind secondaries multiple times. Honestly, if every 49er player raced from the end zone to midfield, my money is on Cowing being first. He's just that fast, a true potential game-changer.
The Injury Curse is Real
But that speed comes with a huge asterisk: can the guy even stay on the field? His injury history is seriously messed up. As a rookie, he got hit with a hamstring injury in OTAs and then training camp, then came back only to get sidelined by a shoulder issue. Last July? Brutal. First day of training camp, BAM, serious hamstring strain. And get this: he re-injured it, then fully pulled the hamstring during the rehab process. Like, seriously? That shut him down for the whole season, straight to IR. Shanahan even said it was "unrealistic" for him to play when they considered activating him late. Cowing told reporters he's got it figured out, that his injury issues are "a thing of the past." But history, my friend, is definitely not on his side. He's gotta prove he can get through training camp, or else.
So, what's the immediate future for the 25-year-old wideout, standing at 5'8" and 175 pounds? He's got two years left on his rookie deal. His base salary for 2026 is $1.075 million, plus a $132,177 prorated signing bonus. If the 49ers want to move on, they'd lose that signing bonus as dead money, but save his base salary. The team still doesn't know what they truly have in him beyond vague offseason praise. Shanahan said he "put in some of the most work that anyone did over the offseason" last year, and this past offseason, Kyle was "really excited how Jordan and Jake came back." They're saying the right things, but actions speak louder. With 63% of Brock Purdy's pass attempts last season under 10 yards, a healthy Jacob Cowing could be a massive weapon for that offense. But unless he can stay healthy this time, all that tantalizing potential is just going to remain a giant "what if" for the 49ers.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.