San Francisco 49ers: Randy Moss Sits Atop the WR Depth Chart, Apparently Jim Harbaugh Was Telling the Truth

By Bear Heiser
Senior Writer

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Randy Moss hasn’t had much to say since joining the team earlier in the year, but it has become apparent that his play did all of the talking for him.

In the 49ers’ most recent depth chart, released Tuesday morning, Moss and Michael Crabtree are listed as the only starters at the position. Free-agent acquisition Mario Manningham and Kyle Williams are listed as the No. 2s, with Ted Ginn Jr. and rookie first-round pick A.J. Jenkins listed as the No. 3s.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh has been boasting about Moss all preseason, yet it’s still rather surprising to see him listed at the top of the depth chart, especially considering he didn’t play a down of football in the NFL last season.

So perhaps Moss has gotten himself back into football shape, both mentally and physically. Ultimately, if the 49ers can get 75 percent of what Moss used to be, that’s still better than most in the league. And if that’s the case, Alex Smith can only go up from here.

Related: San Francisco 49ers: Randy Moss Gives New Meaning to the Sound of Silence

As for the rest of the depth chart, Jenkins is really the only surprise, but if you’ve been following the 49ers at all this offseason, you’d know that it’s really no surprise at all.

Jenkins got off to a very slow start in training camp and Harbaugh was quick to defend his first-round pick to the media. Some reports had suggested that Jenkins shouldn’t even make the team, but that was early on in camp. Jenkins has since made the most of his opportunities. In San Francisco’s fourth and final preseason game, Jenkins caught four passes for 59 yards with a touchdown. It was by far his best game of the preseason.

Now the only question is whether Jenkins will be active on Sundays. As the sixth receiver, because Ginn Jr. is the 49ers primary kick returner, Jenkins will have to show his team something in order to be active, and fast. Maybe it would be a good idea to have Jenkins shadow Moss, who, regardless of his play this season, will go down as one of the best wide receivers to ever play the game.

Follow Bear on Twitter: @BearHeiser

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