Veteran wide receiver Kendrick Bourne has signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers, bringing him back to where his NFL career began. Bourne spent his first four seasons in San Francisco before joining the New England Patriots in 2021.
What makes the move particularly valuable is Bourne's familiarity with Kyle Shanahan's offense, giving him the ability to contribute immediately as the 49ers deal with multiple offensive injuries.
On Monday, Shanahan confirmed that George Kittle will miss several weeks after suffering a hamstring injury in the team's Week 1 game against the Seattle Seahawks. Meanwhile, quarterback Brock Purdy is nursing shoulder and toe injuries, putting his Week 2 status in question. If Purdy is unable to go, Mac Jones—Bourne's former teammate in New England—will start against the New Orleans Saints.
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"We love K.B. from his time here, and he did a hell of a job while he was in New England," Shanahan said Monday on a conference call. "So, when he got let go, we tried to bring him in here a couple of weeks ago, and weren't able to quite get it done."
The Washington Commanders also showed interest in Bourne, but the receiver chose to wait until after Week 1 to decide on his next opportunity.
"It ended up working out with us in the long run," Shanahan added. "So, we got him here today. First time I've seen him back in the building was at a team meeting a little bit ago, and we're pumped to have him back here. We'll see how he does when he gets on the practice field Wednesday."
Bourne brings experience and depth to the 49ers' receiving corps. Over eight NFL seasons, he has recorded 3,714 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns.