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The San Francisco 49ers have a lot of young wide receivers on the roster. Only four of them played during Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Three, Emmanuel Sanders,
Deebo Samuel, and Kendrick Bourne, combined for nearly all of the snaps, with Richie James taking part in just two of the offense's 57 total snaps.
Bourne had just 25 snaps against the Ravens yet led the team with 42 receiving yards. Sanders and Samuel weren't that far behind with 41 receiving yards each. Sanders had 56 snaps while Samuel had 55, with the latter catching the lone touchdown among the group.
During training camp and even earlier in the season, head coach Kyle Shanahan was waiting for receivers to separate themselves from the rest of the pack and prove they deserve more opportunities. Shanahan had hoped Dante Pettis, a second-round pick last year, would be among those players, but he has had a disappointing sophomore NFL campaign.
Sanders, a veteran acquired via a trade with the Denver Broncos on October 22, has become one of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo's most reliable targets. Samuel is the impressive rookie who is giving defensive coordinators headaches while Bourne may be starting to reach his potential.
| Week 13 |
Snaps |
Rec |
Yds |
TD |
| E. Sanders |
56 |
4 |
41 |
0 |
| D. Samuel |
55 |
2 |
41 |
1 |
| K. Bourne |
25 |
3 |
42 |
0 |
| R. James |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Shanahan spoke with reporters via a conference call on Monday and was asked if Sanders, Samuel, and Bourne are the guys who have earned the most opportunities going forward.
"We feel those three guys have earned the right to be out there more than the rest," Shanahan responded. "We feel they have been the most consistent and started playing the best here over the last month or so. So, we have planned to do that more. I don't like how much they went. I think we do have to rotate a little bit more and keep those guys fresh.
"We also have confidence in the other two guys that are there, so we need to use them. Richie (James) came in, and I know made a huge block on Raheem's (Mostert) long touchdown run, and I know [Marquise Goodwin] is ready to go. So, we've got to make sure that we do get them in a little bit more."
It's no surprise that Shanahan didn't mention Pettis. Of course, the young receiver is dealing with a knee injury, did not play against the Ravens, and the head coach didn't sound too optimistic about his availability for Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.
Pettis appears to have plummeted down the 49ers depth chart. He has just 11 receptions for 109 yards with two touchdowns this season. His reception total ranks No. 5 among San Francisco's wideouts, and he has been mostly a non-factor for the team after what many considered a potential-filled rookie campaign.
As for the rest of the group, it looks like Sanders, Samuel, and even Bourne have become Shanahan's go-to guys this season.
"That has changed here, and it's gotten a little more each week here over the last month," Shanahan continued. "Our three guys that have really started to separate themselves a little bit from the group."
Amidst swirling trade rumors surrounding Brandon Aiyuk, the speculation surrounding Deebo Samuel's future with the San Francisco 49ers seems to have quieted down.
According to Michael Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle, the 49ers have assured Samuel that he will not be involved in any pre- or post-draft transactions, ensuring his place on the roster for the time being.
"Samuel, who signed a three-year, $71.55 million extension before the 2022 season, has been assured by his bosses that he will not be dealt during or after the draft," Silver reported, citing a source familiar with the discussions.
Earlier in the
With the 2024 NFL Draft less than a week away, it's common for the rumor mill to start churning, especially with players who are actively seeking a new contract. It was just two short years ago that WR Deebo Samuel requested a trade from the San Francisco 49ers prior to draft day, only for cooler heads to prevail and eventually agree to a new deal.
Now, it's WR Brandon Aiyuk's turn to try and get paid and rumors surfaced over the weekend that he too would request to be dealt. While that report was quickly shot down by his agent, there's still a lot of discussion about Aiyuk's future and if other teams will come calling on draft night.
Legendary columnist Mike Silver joined
With only nine days remaining until the start of the 2024 NFL Draft, Good Morning Football's Peter Schrager revealed his first mock draft of the year. While most might expect the San Francisco 49ers to target an offensive lineman, Schrager has the team bolstering its wide receiver corps with an SEC talent.
Schrager has the 49ers using the No. 31 overall pick to select former Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey, whose 2023 campaign with the Bulldogs was limited by back and ankle injuries.
"McConkey in the first round? Yes," Schrager wrote. "Above guys like Troy Franklin and Keon Coleman? Perhaps. I've spoken to a
On Wednesday, Chat Sports contributor Chase Senior reported that the Pittsburgh Steelers were "aggressively pursuing" San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. He further stated that the Steelers are confident they can finalize a deal for the star player.
REPORTS: The Pittsburgh Steelers are aggressively pursuing a Brandon Aiyuk trade and the Steelers would be "surprised" if they don't land Aiyuk. Of note: Pittsburgh has the 20th overall pick. The Niners could look at that as equal value for Aiyuk if they can't get a deal done.…
