Dede

Westbrook

The team worked out Dede Westbrook but did not sign him. Snead was phased out of the Raiders’ offense early in the 2021 season before the team agreed to release him. He quickly joined the Panthers’ practice squad and found his way on the gameday roster twice. Snead caught 33 balls for 432 yards and three scores with the Ravens in 2020. At this point in the 29-year-old’s career, it’s hard to see him making the 49ers’ final roster.

Westbrook in 2021 caught ten passes for 69 yards in 15 appearances for Minnesota. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports other teams are interested in Westbrook, a six-year veteran who had back-to-back 66-reception seasons for the Jaguars in 2018 and 2019. He would be the fourth or fifth wideout on Minnesota’s depth chart if he returns to the Vikings.

Westbrook was third among Vikings wideouts in offensive snaps because Adam Thielen exited the game in the first quarter and did not return. Thielen is expected to miss at least a week. That would make Justin Jefferson, KJ Osborn, and Westbrook in three-receiver sets for Minnesota. The Vikings have used three-wideout sets on 46 percent of their plays this season, the sixth lowest rate in the NFL.

Westbrook will miss his first game of the season. The Vikings will also be without QB Kellen Mond, OL Wyatt Davis, NT Michael Pierce, DE Patrick Jones II, and LB Chazz Surratt in Week 8.

The Vikings managed Westbrook’s reps the first week of training camp. There was never much doubt over Westbrook’s status, who will be 11 months removed from ACL surgery for Week 1. With Olabisi Johnson (knee) on IR, Westbrook should open the season as the Vikings’ No. 3 receiver.

Westbrook was supposed to visit the Seahawks following his workout with Minnesota over the weekend but will instead opt to keep with the Vikings on a ‘prove it’ deal. Jacksonville’s fourth-round pick in 2017, Westbrook suffered a torn ACL in Week 7 last year, ending his tenure there with 160 receptions for 1,720 yards and nine touchdowns across 40 games. He’s expected to push Bisi Johnson in training camp from day one.

Westbrook, who’s visiting Minnesota Saturday, is expected to sign with the Vikings if all goes well. Seattle’s interest could potentially land Westbrook a better offer in contract talks. The Seahawks will host Westbrook if he leaves Minnesota without a deal.

He’s expected to put pen to paper with Minnesota if his workout goes well. Westbrook, Jacksonville’s fourth-round pick in 2017, suffered a torn ACL in Week 7 last year, which ultimately ended his tenure there with 160 receptions for 1,720 yards and nine touchdowns across 40 games. He would be a solid depth signing who could push Bisi Johnson in camp.

Westbrook suffered a torn ACL in Week 7 of the 2020 season. An eight-month recovery puts him on schedule to be ready a few weeks ahead of the start of preseason. Josina Anderson added that the 49ers have had preliminary discussions with Westbrook. The 49ers don’t have a particularly deep receiving room and most of their wideouts were injured at some point last year. Westbrook caught 66 passes in consecutive seasons before suffering the torn ACL last year. He would be a solid depth signing for the 49ers or any other receiver-needy team.

Fowler didn’t name any teams pursuing Westbrook, though we can assume they are among the NFL’s neediest at wide receiver. Westbrook, 27, had back-to-back 66-catch seasons for Jacksonville in 2018 and 2019 before suffering a season-ending knee injury in October 2020. In 2019, he was second on the team with 101 targets. Westbrook could be a serviceable starter if he’s fully recovered from his 2020 knee injury.