Rookie James Secures Spot on Roster

If there were any doubts Richie James was going to make the 49ers opening-game roster, he put them to bed Thursday night.

The rookie wide receiver had a big night in San Francisco’s final exhibition game of the summer, pulling in seven catches for 80 yards while also returning a punt for 23 yards.

He had several big plays late in the game as the 49ers lost a 23-21 decision to the Los Angeles Chargers at Levi’s Stadium. James likely secured the No. 5 job in the wide receiver corps, behind Marquise Goodwin, Pierre Garcon, Trent Taylor and Dante Pettis. The 49ers are probably going to carry a sixth wideout, too, but James was the only one to have a big night Thursday against the Chargers.

Third-string quarterback Nick Mullens played most of the game for the 49ers with Jimmy Garoppolo (and most of the team's starters) on the sideline and backup C.J. Beathard just making a brief appearance. Mullens was 10-of-17 for 106 yards and also ran for 19 yards and a touchdown.

The 49ers will have some decisions to make, with the deadline to get down to a 53-man roster for the opening of the regular season set for this Saturday.

James, from Middle Tennessee State, was San Francisco’s final selection of the 2018 draft, as the 240^th overall NFL pick in the seventh round. But, since the start of training camp, James has impressed the coaching staff with his playmaking skills as a receiver and returner. When Saturday comes, it would be a shock for James to not be one of the 53 on the 49ers roster.

As Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle noted, James is a talent who flew under the radar to become a seventh-round pick. He was a great receiver in 2016 and 2015 for Middle Tennessee, with a combined 212 catches, but played just five games as a senior because of a broken collarbone. Now he’s made the most of his shot at the NFL.