The San Francisco 49ers recently brought in former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Dee Eskridge for a workout as the team evaluates options in a receiver group that has grown less settled, NFL insider Aaron Wilson has reported.
The move comes amid concerns that Ricky Pearsall may miss practice time due to knee swelling, prompting the organization to examine experienced alternatives early in training camp. Eskridge was joined by Alex Bachman and Trenton Irwin in the session, though no contract has been reported and the workout itself carries no guarantee of a signing.
Eskridge entered the league with high expectations. Seattle selected the Western Michigan product in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, viewing his speed as a potential complement to established weapons like DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
Standing 5-foot-9 and weighing around 190 pounds, he possessed the straight-line explosiveness teams covet in a vertical threat and return specialist.
Those traits, however, never fully translated into a sustained offensive role. Injuries repeatedly disrupted his development during his time with the Seahawks, and the club eventually waived him while shaping its initial 53-man roster in August 2024 after three injury-affected seasons left him as the odd man out.
Since leaving Seattle, Eskridge has continued searching for a consistent opportunity. He spent the past two seasons with the Miami Dolphins, an offense that shares conceptual DNA with the Kyle Shanahan system through former 49ers assistant Mike McDaniel.
His production there remained modest, totaling seven receptions for 106 yards. More notable was his work on special teams, where he logged 726 kickoff-return yards across 13 appearances in 2025 before a toe injury landed him on injured reserve to close the year. That dual-threat profile—speed on offense paired with return experience—gives him a clearer path to roster consideration than a pure depth receiver limited to the passing game.
One earlier moment from Eskridge’s career carries particular resonance for 49ers fans. In December 2021 he scored his first NFL touchdown on a pass from Russell Wilson during Seattle’s 30-23 victory over San Francisco. The play remains one of the more memorable highlights from his Seahawks tenure, even as overall production stayed limited.
Any potential addition of Eskridge would face a steep climb. His draft pedigree no longer carries the weight it once did, and previous teams have already moved on after limited results.
The most realistic avenue onto San Francisco’s roster would involve contributing on special teams, handling return duties, and creating occasional manufactured touches that leverage his acceleration.
He has already explored other options this offseason, including a five-receiver workout with the Houston Texans in May that did not lead to a signing. The latest invitation from the 49ers nevertheless offers another chance to stay in the NFC West and potentially rejoin the division where his professional career began.
For San Francisco the workout represents a low-risk evaluation at a moment when receiver depth could be tested. For Eskridge it is another opportunity to convert speed and special-teams value into a job, this time with one of Seattle’s primary rivals.
Whether that evaluation leads to a contract remains to be seen, but the interest itself underscores how both sides are navigating early uncertainty in the receiver room.
