49ers sign receivers Kevin White, River Cracraft

The 49ers added two more receivers on Thursday while they continue to deal with injuries to the position.

The team signed former Chicago Bears first-round pick Kevin White and former Denver Bronco River Cracraft. To make room on the roster, the team released wideout Jaron Brown and waived/injured defensive end Jonathan Kongbo, who sustained a groin injury this week.

“We’re just low on numbers and that’s what happens,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said. “So you got to keep taking other guys in to help spell those legs.”

White, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2015 draft, has had a hugely disappointing career due mostly to injuries. He’s appeared in 14 games and totaled 25 catches for 285 yards over three seasons. He missed his rookie season with a stress fracture in his shin and was out of the league in 2019.

White joins Tevon Austin as another highly drafted receiver brought in for depth purposes while the Deebo Samuel (broken foot), Brandon Aiyuk (hamstring) and Richie James (fractured wrist) work back from injuries. Promising second-year pro Jalen Hurd was lost for the season earlier this month with an ACL tear. The 49ers have signed five new receivers this month.

Cracraft initially joined Denver as an undrafted signed to their practice squad in October of 2017. He’s made one catch in nine games.