SANTA CLARA – With a lot of uncertainty entering this week at tight end, the 49ers this week added a sixth wide receiver.
The 49ers on Tuesday signed free-agent wide receiver Keshawn Martin to a two-year contract. Coach Chip Kelly said Martin can assist in the return game, too.
"It gives us another receiver-slash-returner with (Jeremy) Kerley, just adds some depth," Kelly said on Wednesday. "We had five wideouts. Now we have six wideouts. We always intended to carry six wideouts, if we could."
Kerley is the 49ers' leading receiver through three games with 12 receptions for 114 yards. He has also handled all of the team's punt-return chores. Kerley is averaging 10.3 yards on three returns with nine fair catches.
Starting wide receiver Torrey Smith has served as the 49ers' backup punt returner. Smith sustained an apparent ankle injury late in the game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, but Kelly said he is fine.
Martin, 26, is a fifth-year pro who spent his first three full seasons with the Houston Texans before playing nine games with the New England Patriots last season. In 2013, Martin handled 36 kickoff returns, averaging 26.3 yards. He has also averaged 9.1 yards on 94 career punt returns.
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"You want to have a guy back there that gives you a chance," Kelly said. "You don't want a guy back there that's just going to fair-catch it all of the time."
Tight end Garrett Celek, who absorbed a big hit from Seattle safety Kam Chancellor on Sunday, was at practice on Wednesday wearing a blue jersey signifying that he is off-limits for contract.
Starting tight end Vance McDonald left Sunday's game in the first half with a hip injury and did not return. Kelly seemed to suggest that McDonald will not be available to play against the Cowboys.
"We'll see how the week goes along," Kelly said. "I don't think it's anything that's a long-term deal. So it's not a three- or four-week deal. We'll see how the week goes along. I can't predict whether they'll be available to play on Sunday, but we'll see how that goes."
Second-year player Blake Bell is the only healthy tight end on the 49ers' 53-man roster.
