The San Francisco 49ers announced the activation of wide receiver Victor Bolden Jr. from the suspended list on Saturday. The team activated Bolden and also promoted DL Ryan Delaire to the active roster from the practice squad. In order to make room on the roster, the team has waived DB Tyvis Powell and OL Najee Toran.
Bolden was suspended over the summer for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. The four-game suspension ended on Monday, and the team had a one-week roster exemption through next Monday to activate him.
The fact that the team made the move on Saturday suggests Marquise Goodwin will be inactive on Sunday. Dante Pettis has already been ruled out, while Goodwin was questionable with hamstring and quadricep issues. If Goodwin is unable to go, the 49ers would be down to four normally active receivers prior to the Bolden activation.
The question now is who gets a bigger opportunity between Bolden and Richie James. They would be the fourth and fifth receivers if Goodwin is inactive. Kyle Shanahan seemed to suggest James would be involved, while Bolden’s history with the team is primarily as a return man. They have D.J. Reed and Trent Taylor to return punts and kicks, respectively, so we’ll wait and see what Sunday brings for Bolden.
The defensive line promotion is an interesting one given that the team’s injury report had no defensive line names on it. This might be a chance to try some new things in the pass rush.