Rookie receiver Jacob Cowing was expected to struggle in training camp due to the abundance of talent at his position, but now he has been presented with a prime opportunity to impress the coaches.

Cowing could find a role on several NFL offenses, but with the San Francisco 49ers, he was far down the pecking order. Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, and Ricky Pearsall were all ahead of him, making it unlikely for him to secure a spot in the offense this year, especially considering the presence of Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle.

However, Cowing now has a prime opportunity as he enters 49ers training camp. He is set to receive more practice reps than before, largely because Aiyuk is likely to hold out after recently requesting a trade. This holdout could last a while.

Additionally, Pearsall appears to be missing some time after being placed on the non-football injury list. The specifics of Pearsall’s injury and its severity are unknown, but it’s likely he’ll miss some time when training camp opens on July 23. This situation opens up practice reps for Cowing.

This is a significant opportunity for Cowing to utilize. It will help him get up to speed and provide him with a chance to impress Kyle Shanahan and possibly secure a role in the offense. While it’s unfortunate for Pearsall to be injured, it presents a prime opportunity for Cowing.

The severity and duration of Pearsall’s absence remain uncertain, but Cowing must capitalize on this opportunity if he hopes to see the field during his rookie season.