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Third-year wide receiver Dante Pettis acknowledged that last season didn't go as he had hoped. He has accepted much of the blame for his performance.
Right now, the San Francisco 49ers wideout is focused on this season, and last month shared his goals for 2020. And they don't include passing yards, touchdowns, or any other statistical feat.
"To play free, without anything holding me back,"
Pettis said. "... Going in every day, and getting to a point to where, coming into practice or the weight room or whatever, getting to a point to where I know that I got better ... You need to get to the breaking point each day and get past that. That's kind of how I would measure my goals for this year."
Pettis has impressed his coaches since the start of training camp. That's good because his number may come up on Sunday during the 49ers' opener against the Arizona Cardinals. The chances of that happening may increase, depending on the statuses of
Deebo Samuel (foot) and
Brandon Aiyuk (hamstring). Both are returning from injuries.
"With two receivers being day-to-day, we're ready for any situation with the receivers," head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters before Wednesday's practice. "Whether Dante is going to play a lot, play a little, he's kind of in the same boat with about four other guys."
San Francisco made Pettis a second-round pick out of Washington in 2018. He caught 27 passes for 467 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie, raising expectations for his sophomore campaign. Pettis hauled in just 11 passes for 109 yards with two scores last season.
Still, Shanahan has been impressed with the work Pettis put in this offseason and the effort he has shown since reporting to training camp.
"What I can say is that Dante is so much more prepared right now for the season than he was last year at this time," Shanahan continued. "Just the work that he put in while he was away, the stuff I said earlier in the year, but it definitely hasn't changed.
"Everyone battled through camp, and had some good days, some bad days. But Dante was so prepared for camp, fought through camp, the tough days, and I think took a number of steps forward as a receiver. And whether he gets his opportunity this week or some other time throughout the year, he's put himself in a position to have a chance to be successful."
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel will be wearing No. 1 the next time he steps onto the football field, leaving behind his No. 19 jersey. It's an unfortunate change for any fan who previously invested in a Deebo jersey—unless they consider it a throwback.
Newly signed wide receiver Trent Taylor quickly claimed No. 19 after rejoining the team on a one-year deal following three seasons elsewhere. Taylor last wore No. 15 with the 49ers, a number currently worn by wide receiver Jauan Jennings. Taylor also wore No. 81 with the team.
The 49ers' official team site has listed the jersey numbers for several of the team's free-agent newcomers (and Maliek Collins, acquired via a
Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group caught up with Brock Purdy over the weekend as the San Francisco 49ers quarterback hosted his inaugural youth football camp at Levi's Stadium. Today, Purdy and most of his teammates will report to the team for the start of the offseason program, which will be limited to meetings, strength and conditioning, and physical rehabilitation over the next couple of weeks.
While this offseason holds significance for Purdy as he seeks to build upon an impressive 2023 campaign that saw him set a single-season franchise
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.…
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
