SANTA CLARA – General manager John Lynch tried Thursday morning to bandage the 49ers’ injury chaos at wide receiver.

“We’ll have enough guys come Week 1 to put a formidable group out there, then we’ll get some guys back throughout the course of the season. We’ll be OK there,” Lynch said on KNBR 680-AM.

The 49ers open the regular season Sept. 7 at Seattle, but they first host the Los Angeles Chargers in Saturday’s preseason finale then must trim their roster to 53 by Tuesday.

That roster is littered with injury issues at wide receiver.

The 49ers traded Wednesday for Skyy Moore from the Kansas City Chiefs, after Jacob Cowing aggravated a hamstring injury and Russell Gage sustained a knee sprain.

Here is a recap from Lynch on the receiver unit:

SKYY’S THE LIMIT

Moore was a 2022 second-round pick for the Chiefs whose career was hindered by injuries, but the 49ers envision him as a return specialist, especially after seeing Moore returning a punt for a touchdown in a preseason game against Seattle.

“The bottom line, Skyy is a talented guy who, probably, a change in environment was needed,” Lynch said. “What I like is it gives us a chance to evaluate him before the season. … He probably has fallen short of expectations they had for him but he brings value in he’s a dual returner – punt and kickoff. With Cowing out that became valuable and important to us.”

Lynch noted that Moore must pass a physical upon Thursday’s arrival to complete the trade, in which the 49ers also get a seventh-round pick while sending away a sixth-rounder.

GAGE GETS HURT, TOO

Gage’s impressive camp essentially ended Wednesday with a knee sprain. He won all three of his one-on-one reps early in practice. Problem was, he got hurt on his second rep, had a trainer inspect what appeared to be his right ankle, coach Kyle Shanahan came over to check on him, then Gage finished out the drill with a catch against Siran Neal.

Shanahan and Lynch were side by side watching the drill and initially feared Gage’s ankle buckled.

“A slight MCL sprain was a welcome news,” Lynch said. “We expect him to be ready for our opener. It’s better than the alternative we say.”

Skyy Moore, traded to the 49ers Wednesday, returns a punt 88 yards for a touchdown against Seattle in Week 2 of the preseason.. AP Photo

JAUAN JENNINGS UPDATE

Lynch insisted that Moore’s arrival was “no message” intended to spur along Jennings’ absence from practice since Aug. 27 with a calf issue Shanahan’s traced to last season’s training camp.

“We like the player Skyy. We love Jauan,” Lynch said. “We’re getting close to the season. Players have to practice but if they’re not healthy enough to do it, they can’t. We’re getting there where we have to get out on the field. We’ll let that unfold.”

Lynch would not wade into whether Jennings is holding out related to a contract-extension quest.

AIYUK’S DELAYED ARRIVAL

Aiyuk is all but ruled out of that “formidable” until for Week 1 as the 49ers insist they won’t rush him back from last October’s multiple-ligament tear that came on what Lynch described as a “vicious” hit by the Chiefs.

“We’re comfortable saying he’s not going to be there Week 1, and then it probably will be some time after that. I’m not going to put exact timelines,” Lynch said. “Hopefully some time this season he’s playing the type of football we expect and he expects himself to play at, and he will be a big boost to the team.”

Aiyuk has been a daily fixture at practice doing light work on the side (and out of official drills). He ran a few unscripted routes and caught three passes from Brock Purdy before Saturday’s game in Las Vegas.

Aiyuk will miss a minimum four games if the 49ers do not clear him off it Tuesday, and Shanahan has loosely projected a Week 6 debut for Aiyuk.

SUSPENSION EXPECTED

The NFL has yet to officially announce a three-game suspension for Demarcus Robinson but that is the 49ers’ working scenario. Robinson pled no contest to a drunken-driving charge stemming from his arrest last season on the Los Angeles Rams.

Robinson and Shanahan confirmed earlier this month that an appeal process was underway, and Shanahan reiterated that Wednesday on KNBR 680-AM while alluding to the expected three-game suspension, as mandated by the league’s collective bargaining agreement for DUI.

CAN’T CATCH A BREAK

Here are the wide receivers known to be injured:

— Brandon Aiyuk (knee): Remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list.

— Jauan Jennings (calf): Out since July 27 with a calf issue that Shanahan traces to last year’s camp absence.

— Jacob Cowing (hamstring): Got injured in warmups Day 1 of camp, then aggravated it Tuesday after only two practices.

— Jordan Watkins (ankle): Sustained a high-ankle sprain in the preseason opener.

— Equanimeous St. Brown: Injured reserve

— Trent Taylor: Injured reserve.

WHO’S AVAILABLE

Related Articles

What are 49ers’ most troubling injury concerns headed into Week 1?

49ers trade for Chiefs WR Skyy Moore

The 49ers have a big problem at wide receiver. Here are three reasonable solutions

49ers’ offense is growing on RB Guerendo while LB Bethune also making second-year strides

Youthful supporting cast has changed vibe, but driving forces of 49ers’ camp have been George Kittle, Fred Warner

Robbie Chosen might be the cream of the 49ers’ remaining crop of healthy receivers, a group that also includes Isaiah Hodgins, Terique Owens, Malik Knowles, and Malik Turner.

Lynch said of Chosen: “These guys wear GPS and he’ll clock some of the highest speeds we have out here. He’s starting to go and he can make plays. As long as he continues to do that, there’s a place for him. We’ll see how the room shakes out. It’ll be a nice redemption story.”

Lynch noted that “there’s always attrition” at wide receiver in camp, and the 49ers are well aware of the constant start-and-stop impact on their bodies, yet note the only way to avoid injuries altogether is to not practice.