In a media session on Tuesday, San Francisco 49ers star tight end George Kittle was asked about the wide receivers room after losing Kendrick Bourne.
Kittle noted the significant loss of Bourne, who was a locker room stalwart, and acknowledged that to make up for Bourne's absence, the entire receivers room needs to step up if the team wants to improve from last year.
Top receiver Deebo Samuel only played in seven games last year after a strong rookie season, accumulating just under 400 yards for the season. With quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo back under center, Samuel will look to bounce back to be the threat he was in his rookie year, during which he caught 57 passes for 802 yards.
While Kittle mentioned that the receivers room needs to step up, especially the younger players, he had no worries about whether the group would come to play when the time comes. With a healthy roster at organized team activities (OTAs), as only Dee Ford and Nick Bosa weren't present, the 49ers look much better poised to begin the 2021 season.
Kittle himself mentioned that he participated in a different training regimen this offseason. That program was geared towards his lower body after experiencing injuries to that part of his body last season. The tight end added that he is fired up that everybody has shown up to participate in OTAs.
While the 49ers didn't select a wide receiver in the draft, making a move is still a possibility, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. However, the team also likes the players it has at the position.