Demarcus Robinson suspension, explained: 49ers WR gets three-game ban for DUI charge, further hurting depth chart

The 49ers are going to have a depleted wide receiver room to start the 2025 season, and it just took another hit on Wednesday.

Brandon Aiyuk is not expected to be ready for the beginning of the year as he rehabs his torn ACL from 2024, and Jauan Jennings is out with a calf injury.

The latest wide receiver who will miss the start of the 2025 season is Demarcus Robinson. A silver lining is that he isn’t dealing with an injury like several of the members of the wide receiver corps, but instead, he’s been given a three-game suspension from the NFL. The 49ers wide receiver will have a chance to appeal.

Here are the latest updates on Robinson’s suspension.

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Demarcus Robinson suspension, explained

Robinson has been suspended for the first three games of the 2025 NFL season. The suspension stems from a DUI charge from November 2024. The 49ers wide receiver pleaded no contest in July 2025 to the misdemeanor DUI charge and was sentenced to three years of probation.

While he will have that sentence from the judicial system, the league takes these charges seriously and typically suspends players three games for a first-time offense. Robinson is likely to miss the season opener, but it depends on how long the appeal process takes. If he still is appealing when Week 1 comes around, he would be eligible to play while still appealing. 

So we’re up to speed …

– Three games is the standard suspension for first offense DUI

– Players appeal suspensions, not teams

– Demarcus Robinson’s discipline is still going through the appeals process

– Three games is the logical outcome to be finalized before Week 1 https://t.co/X1aoEdQYCz

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 20, 2025

49ers WR depth chart

Actual 49ers wide receiver depth chart

49ers WR depth chart not including injured or suspended players

Aiyuk is expected to be sidelined until at least Week 6 while recovering from his ACL injury. Jennings has a calf injury and is also seeking a new contract. Robinson has his suspension, and Watkins is dealing with a high ankle sprain. Rounding out the list, Cowing had a hamstring injury and recently aggravated it. 

This situation leads to a great opportunity for second-year wide receiver Ricky Pearsall to take a step forward. His rookie season was delayed when he was shot in the preseason. Pearsall recovered and played 11 games. He brought in 31 of his 46 targets for 400 yards and three touchdowns. Pearsall, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey will be Brock Purdy’s top targets early, and San Francisco needs to desperately get healthy at the wide receiver position. 

This article will be updated.