49ers sign former Panthers second-round pick to the practice squad

The 49ers added former Panthers WR Terrace Marshall Jr., a wideout with some prospect pedigree.

The San Francisco 49ers have signed wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. to their practice squad. NFL Insider Jordan Schultz was the first to report Marshall was joining the 49ers. Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston was the first to report he was joining the practice squad. Marshall was released by the Carolina Panthers earlier this week and became a free agent after clearing waivers. Marshall was drafted by the Panthers in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of LSU.

Marshall had some flashes during his tenure in Carolina, especially during the 2022 season. Marshall recorded 490 receiving yards and a touchdown on 28 receptions that year, and he did the majority of his damage in the second half of the season. However, he was unable to build off that positive momentum last season. Injuries limited Marshall to just nine games (four starts), but he managed just 139 receiving yards and 19 receptions on the season.

Marshall ultimately finished his Panthers’ tenure with 767 receiving yards, one touchdown, and 64 receptions (110 targets) in 36 games (16 starts). Despite that lacking production, Marshall undeniably had an incredibly significant uphill battle. The Panthers are entering this season with the third full-time head coach of Marshall’s tenure. Carolina has also struggled mightily to get any production out of their quarterbacks in that time. A move to San Francisco could put Marshall in position to capitalize on the traits that once made him a top prospect.

A five-star recruit out of Parkview High School in Louisiana, Marshall spent his entire collegiate career at LSU. Marshall was a contributor all three seasons on campus, including on the undefeated championship team in 2019. After sitting behind future NFL superstars Ja’Mar Chase and Justin Jefferson, Marshall was LSU’s top wideout in 2020. In seven games that season, Marshall racked up 731 receiving yards and a team-leading 10 touchdowns.

At 6’2’’-210, Marshall had NFL size and improved his draft stock even more with a 4.37 40-yard dash time at his Pro Day. Given his physical traits and track record of success at a premiere program, Marshall was a top prospect despite some concerns about inconsistency. Those concerns grew more and more prominent in Carolina, but the 49ers will look to help Marshall change that narrative.