SANTA CLARA — Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who caught a touchdown pass against the 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII, is reportedly joining their thin receiving corps.
Valdes-Scantling was released Tuesday by the Seattle Seahawks, who guaranteed him $3 million in the spring only to see him beat out by fifth-round pick Tory Horton.
The 49ers may not stop there. Former Niner Kendrick Bourne is expected to be released by the New England Patriots, NFL Network reported.
Another addition is coming via the waiver-wire marketplace: defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson, a 2024 fourth-round draft pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars. None of the 49ers’ dozen players waived got claimed by Wednesday’s 9 a.m. deadline.
The 49ers’ initial 53-man roster featured five wide receivers, three of whom are injured — Jauan Jennings, Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing. The other two are Ricky Pearsall, last year’s first-round pick, and Skyy Moore, who was acquired last week in a trade.
The 49ers also will open their season without Brandon Aiyuk and Demarcus Robinson. Aiyuk remained on the Physically Unable to Perform list and is not expected to debut until Week 6. Robinson drew a three-game suspension from the NFL in the wake of a no-contest, drunken-driving arrest while he was with the Los Angeles Rams last season.
Junior Bergen will return to the 49ers and join their 16-man practice squad, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo first reported. Bergen, a seventh-round pick, was the only member of the Niners’ 11-man draft class to not make Tuesday’s initial 53-man roster.
Valdes-Scantling’s deal with the 49ers was initially relayed to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero via the wide receiver’s representatives at the National Sports Agency. The 49ers did not immediately confirm the signing.
Valdes-Scantling has become an NFL journeyman since playing his first four seasons with the Green Bay Packers, who selected him in the fifth round of the 2018 draft. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022-23, with his final game being the Super Bowl win over the 49ers. Last season, Valdes-Scantling was released by the Buffalo Bills in October and finished the season with the New Orleans Saints.
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MVS may translate to MVP, considering four of the last five NFL MVPs have thrown to Valdes-Scantling, as noted by the Associated Press’ Josh Dubow; those were Aaron Rodgers (2020-21), Patrick Mahomes (2022) and Josh Allen (2024).
Valdes-Scantling has 205 career receptions for 3,566 yards and 20 touchdowns with an impressive 17.4-yard average per catch.
WAIVER NEWS
The 49ers kept 11 defensive linemen on their initial 53-man roster, and one may have to go as a corresponding move to Jefferson’s arrival as a waiver claim. He had one sack and 12 tackles in eight games as a Jagaurs rookie.
The 49ers exposed a dozen players to wivers: wide receivers Bergen and Terique Owens; offensive linemen Nick Zakelj and Drake Nugent; defensive linemen Sebastian Valdez and William Bradley-King; linebackers Jalen Graham and Stone Blanton; cornerbacks Dallis Flowers and Derrick Canteen; safety Jaylen Mahoney; and tight end Brayden Willis. Willis, Mahoney, and Nugent all started last season on the practice squad.
