New San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders is still getting acclimated to his new team and the other wideouts on the roster. He's been practicing with his new teammates since Wednesday, and head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters this week that Sanders will play "a lot" on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.
What Sanders is asked to do might be limited, but there is no doubt that he is now the 49ers' No. 1 receiver and, therefore, will be out on the field most of the time.
Sanders has already discussed how impressed he was the first time he saw his new quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo, out on the practice field.
"What I know so far in terms of him as a player is just going out to the walkthrough," Sanders told reporters on Wednesday, "how much energy he brought, just through a walkthrough, practice, and the cadence that he delivered, and the tempo that he expected guys (to have), and getting guys in and out of the huddle. It was good to see. I'm a big engird guy. I love and I feed off energy, and his energy is definitely contagious."
It isn't just Garoppolo who has impressed Sanders. So have the other receivers on the team. He quickly noticed the attitude his new teammates bring to the game.
"All those guys are cool," Sanders recently told team reporter Keiana Martin. "I've enjoyed just being around them. We were laughing and having a good time, and then once the horn blew, you see those guys' faces go just straight focus.
"That's what it takes. If you show me a winning football team, you show me a team that's having fun with big personalities. They know how to work, but they also know how to play, and so you've got to have a balance of everything."
Martin asked what Sanders, a 10-year veteran and two-time Pro Bowl selection, brings to the Niners. He's looking to join in the fun after going from the two-win Denver Broncos to the undefeated 49ers.
"I just want to fit in in terms of having fun," Sanders responded. "I love to have fun because when I'm having fun, I'm playing my best ball. You'll see me in the end zone. I'll be turning flips and stuff. I'll be doing all types of gimmicks and stuff in the end zone. When it comes to blocking, I want to stick my nose in there and talk a little smack and have fun.
"I just want to bring it. Hopefully, I can be a little spark. I feel like I play with a lot of energy and a lot of passion, so I just want to add even more energy to this already amazing team."
