The 49ers on Saturday promoted their second practice-squad wide receiver to the team’s active roster this week.
Wide receiver Max McCaffrey was brought up to the 49ers’ 53-man roster to be available for the season finale on Sunday against the NFC West-champion Los Angeles Rams, a league source told NBC Sports Bay Area.
The 49ers confirmed the news later in the afternoon. Along with McCaffrey, the team also promoted defensive lineman Ryan Delaire to the active roster. In order to make room for McCaffrey and Delaire, the 49ers placed running back Matt Breida and receiver Dante Pettis on injured reserve.
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SIGN UP HERE Earlier this week, the 49ers promoted rookie wide receiver Steven Dunbar Jr. from the practice squad.
The 49ers on Friday ruled out Marquise Goodwin (calf) and Pettis (knee) from playing on Sunday. The 49ers previously lost Pierre Garçon to a knee injury. Garçon was expected to be the team’s No. 1 receiver when the season began.
McCaffrey and Dunbar will join Kendrick Bourne, Trent Taylor and Richie James as the active wide receivers for Sunday’s game against the Rams.
“Those guys will be pumped,” coach Kyle Shanahan said on “49ers Game Plan,” which airs Saturday at 7 p.m. on NBC Bay Area (Ch. 3).
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“Guys like Dunbar and, possibly, Max McCaffrey, guys who haven’t had a chance to play for us, yet. Those guys are going to get some opportunities. They’re getting their opportunity because of injuries, and I know they won’t miss a beat. They’re real excited. They’re competitive guys. They believe they should be up every single week.”
McCaffrey, 24, is the son of former NFL wide receiver Ed McCaffrey and the older brother of Carolina Panthers star running back Christian McCaffrey.
Max McCaffrey (6 foot 2, 200 pounds) appeared in five games last season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He caught one pass for 4 yards. He spent time last year on the 49ers’ practice squad and active roster but did not appear in any games.
McCaffrey spent the offseason program with the 49ers and was waived with an injury before the start of the regular season. He also served a four-game NFL suspension when he was not affiliated with any team. The NFL did not reveal the nature of McCaffrey’s suspension.