SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Since signing wide receiver Demarcus Robinson in March, the San Francisco 49ers have been bracing for him to be suspended for the first three games of the season as part of the fallout from a misdemeanor DUI charge.
On Wednesday, Niners coach Kyle Shanahan revealed on KNBR radio in San Francisco that Robinson has indeed been suspended for the first three weeks.
“D-Rob, we’re not going to have through the first three weeks,” Shanahan said. “You can always appeal it, so we’ll hope for the best on that, but that’s what we are planning for.”
Robinson was arrested last November in Los Angeles while a member of the Rams and pleaded no contest to misdemeanor DUI in early July. When the Niners signed Robinson to a two-year, $9.5 million contract in free agency, they acknowledged the likelihood that he would have to miss time for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
Through this training camp, Robinson has proved one of the Niners’ most reliable receiving options. Shanahan said Wednesday that Robinson and second-year wideout Ricky Pearsall have been “the two most consistent” receivers in training camp.
On Aug. 11, Robinson said he was awaiting official word on his punishment as he went through the appeal process.
“[I’m] pretty anxious,” Robinson said at the time. “Just waiting on the outcome to see what happens with that. I really don’t know the timeframe. Waiting to hear from them, obviously. It’s all up to whatever the league says.”
In 2024, Robinson started all 17 games for the Rams, leading them with seven touchdown catches and finishing with 31 receptions for 505 yards. Those yardage and touchdown totals were career highs for Robinson, who is entering his 10th NFL season.
Should the three-game suspension stand, Robinson will miss the Sept. 7 season opener at the Seattle Seahawks, a Week 2 game at the New Orleans Saints and the Week 3 home opener against the Arizona Cardinals. He’d be eligible to return Week 4 at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
While Robinson’s absence has been expected, it’s another blow to a receiver room that is full of questions as the season approaches. The Niners will be without Brandon Aiyuk for the opener as he recovers from a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee, with a Week 6 return the current target.
Veteran Jauan Jennings is still battling a calf injury and has a lingering contract issue as he seeks a sizable raise, and rookie fourth-round pick Jordan Watkins is working his way back from a high ankle sprain that could keep him out the early part of the season, too.
Jacob Cowing, a fourth-round selection in 2024, did not practice Wednesday because of an aggravated hamstring injury. Cowing just returned last week after hurting the hamstring on the first day of practice but had a setback late in Tuesday’s workout.
“(He) felt it yesterday,” Shanahan told KNBR. “So, we had to hold him back today.”
