The San Francisco 49ers reportedly explored the tight end market before the trade deadline, and a Denver Broncos standout was on their radar.

San Francisco looked at Denver's Evan Engram but ultimately landed on wide receiver Keenan Allen, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, before they traded for receiver Keenan Allen. It's unclear whether the 49ers made real headway on a deal for Engram or were only gauging the market.

The interest makes sense given the 49ers' thin tight end room. Jake Tonges has been on injured reserve with a knee injury since the preseason, leaving George Kittle as the only real option. Kittle leads the team with 38 catches for 483 yards and five touchdowns in eight games. The only other 49ers tight end with a reception is Luke Farrell, who has three catches for 33 yards.

Engram, a former first-round pick of the Giants in 2017, has been used inconsistently in Denver. Through nine games this season, he has 17 catches on 30 targets for 169 yards and one touchdown. His best outing came in Week 6 against the Chargers, when he caught four passes for 55 yards. He also faced the 49ers in Week 4, catching one pass for six yards in Denver's 24-14 loss.

The 49ers should have a healthier pass-catcher group as the season progresses, now that Allen is in tow. He'll join Jordan Watkins, Demarcus Robinson, Jacob Cowing and Brandin Cooks in Week 10, while Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel could return soon, too.