Ronnie Bell exits scrimmage on cart

Bell should be able to return to practice in the coming days. The 26-year-old is one of a handful of wideouts competing for the final spots in the Saints’ receiving room.

The Saints are looking to add receiver depth and hosted a trio of wideouts for tryouts Tuesday. Osborn was cut by the Commanders prior to the start of the season while the Packers let Hardman go last month. Bell was also released by the Lions last month. Between the three, the Saints signed Bell to their practice squad.

The 49ers selected Bell in the 2023 NFL draft’s seventh round after the former Michigan prospect flashed explosive traits at the NFL combine. Bell was never able to produce consistently as a receiver and likewise struggled to find his footing on special teams. He concludes his 49ers tenure with eight receptions, 90 yards and three touchdowns on 19 targets.

Hufanga is now out with an ankle injury, one week after making his 2024 debut following his 2023 ACL reconstruction. The 49ers will fortunately have Williams (illness, toe) protecting Brock Purdy’s blindside though. Deebo Samuel Sr. is active as well. He remains a high-ceiling WR1, though the 49ers could opt to rest him late in the game if they establish a comfortable lead, as expected.

Rookie wide receiver Ronnie Bell has been the odd man out in the wide receiver rotation throughout the playoffs, a trend that remains for the season’s ultimate game. Both standard elevations from the practice squad, DL Alex Barrett and DL T.Y. McGill are also inactive.

With Deebo Samuel removed on Friday, it’s a quiet injury list for the Niners as they look to return to the Super Bowl. With Samuel in, you can’t get weird with Bell in DFS.

With Brandon Aiyuk (shoulder) sidelined, Jennings quite literally split snaps with seventh-round rookie Ronnie Bell. Pro Football Focus charted both wideouts as receiving 31 reps. It was Bell who found the end zone on a 1-on-1 dime from Brock Purdy. With Aiyuk likely to return for Week 4 against the Cardinals, Jennings and Bell will have trouble finding the stat sheet.

Bell (6’0/191) rebounded from a torn ACL suffered in 2021 to have a productive 2022 with the Wolverines. Posting career-highs across the board last season (62-892-4), Bell excelled in a run-heavy Michigan offense playing both out wide and from the slot. A receiver with a high motor and competitive nature, Bell will challenge any defender for the ball. His 20 percent contested catch rate is underwhelming, but his athleticism, which includes a 38.5-inch vertical, puts him in position to win any battle in the air. As a sophomore, Bell led the Wolverines in receiving (48-758-1), narrowly edging out teammates Nico Collins and Donovan Peoples-Jones. In a COVID shortened 2020, Bell would again lead his team in receiving. His speed won’t impress anybody, but Bell outperforming NFL talents in Collins and DPJ as an underclassman is worth noting.

The outlook going into 2021 was great for Bell (6'0/192), but it never happened as a knee injury in the first game of the season ended it quickly. Michigan has done well on offense as they are one game away from a College Football Playoff appearance, but it’s good to know they’ll have their best wideout for another run in 2022

Bell (6'0/192) appeared to be on his way to a big day in the Wolverines’ season-opening win over Western Michigan, but a knee injury suffered at the end of a second quarter punt return ended his afternoon -- and season. To say that this is a big loss for the Wolverines to take would be an understatement, as the junior was the team’s leading receiver in both 2019 and 2020. Add in the contributions that Bell could make on special teams, and Michigan has a massive hole to fill as it attempts to bounce back from a disappointing 2020 campaign. Daylen Baldwin, Roman Wilson, Cornelius Johnson and Mike Sainristil will need to step up in Bell’s absence.