The San Francisco 49ers officially opened their first organized team activity practices on May twenty-seventh recently afterward.

League insiders described the opening OTA session as one of San Francisco’s most competitive offseason workouts entering the 2026 season overall recently afterward.

However, one unexpected absence reportedly created immediate attention surrounding the 49ers’ wide receiver depth competition overall recently afterward.

Undrafted rookie wide receiver Wesley Grimes was noticeably absent during the 49ers’ first OTA practice overall recently afterward.

According to reports surrounding the workout session, no official explanation regarding Grimes’ absence was immediately provided publicly overall recently afterward.

Only hours later, the 49ers made the surprising decision waiving the rookie receiver from the active offseason roster overall recently afterward.

The move came shortly after the 49ers completed a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders for veteran receiver Jakobi Meyers overall recently afterward.

League evaluators believe San Francisco prioritized proven special teams value and professional experience entering the beginning stages of OTA competition overall recently afterward.

Grimes originally joined the 49ers after going undrafted following a productive collegiate career between Wake Forest and North Carolina State overall recently afterward.

During his final college season at North Carolina State, Grimes recorded 29 receptions for 430 yards and 3 touchdowns overall recently afterward.

Across his collegiate career, Grimes accumulated seventy-seven receptions, one-thousand-one-hundred-twenty-one receiving yards, and nine receiving touchdowns overall recently afterward.

He additionally showcased versatility as a kickoff return specialist throughout multiple offensive systems overall recently afterward.

Despite intriguing size and athletic traits (6-2, 194 lbs), Grimes reportedly faced an extremely crowded competition battle within the 49ers’ deep receiver room overall recently afterward.

Internally, 49ers coaches reportedly continue emphasizing accountability, availability, and special teams contribution throughout offseason roster evaluations overall recently afterward.

Several league observers now speculate Grimes’ unexplained OTA absence may have accelerated the 49ers’ decision moving forward strategically overall recently afterward.

At this stage, neither Grimes nor the 49ers organization publicly clarified the exact reason behind the rookie’s OTA absence overall recently afterward.