The San Francisco 49ers are close to getting some much-needed help at the wide receiver position, making the likelihood of a late-October trade, well, less likely.
With Michael Crabtree (Achilles) expected back by mid-to-late November and Mario Manningham (knee) set to play "soon," per coach Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco's depth chart is shaping up.
General manager Trent Baalke told reporters from London, where the 49ers will play the Jaguars on Sunday, that the influx of talent makes trading for a pass-catcher an unlikely scenario, per the San Francisco Chronicle.
Browns receiver Josh Gordon's name has bubbled in trade talks over the past month, but Cleveland isn't going to give him away. Amid reports that teams are offering the Browns a draft pick and a player for Gordon, Baalke downplayed the idea that San Francisco was in the market for wide receiver help.
Baalke also shot down rumors that running back LaMichael James is on the block, saying: "We're not interested in trading LaMichael. LaMichael's a key player."
The 49ers have shown improvement on offense during their four-game win streak and weathered the absence of Crabtree and Manningham during a 5-2 start. That patience has paid off and San Francisco now looms as a dangerous opponent down the stretch.
We previewed every Week 8 game in the latest "Around The League Podcast."
