Podcast: 49ers Mini-Camp & The Football Movie Draft →
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports


Quinton Patton leading competition to start Week 1

Aug 6, 2016 at 4:21 PM--


WR Eric Rogers went down with a torn ACL on Thursday, but it was becoming increasingly unlikely that he would end up with a significant amount of playing time once the season started. At least, that was the impression from the team's training camp practices, which are now a full week in.

The wide receiver who appears to have the inside track to line up across from Torrey Smith when the 49ers open the season against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium on September 12 is none other than Quinton Patton.

Patton appeared in all 16 games for the 49ers last season, starting four of them. During that time, he hauled in 30 passes for 394 yards and a touchdown. That's over 13 yards per reception. Despite playing in only 320 passing snaps in 2015, Patton was still the highest graded 49ers receiver according to advanced statistics site Pro Football Focus – even slightly better than Smith, who is nearly a lock to be the team's number one receiver in 2016.

While his receiving grade stayed within the same range for the majority of the season, his run support grade dramatically increased as the season progressed. That's important for a tweeked offensive line that looks to improve upon last year's poor showing and add support for a healthy Carlos Hyde.

On Saturday, Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee said that Patton was among those that were the most likely to start during Week 1.

Grant Cohn of the Press Democrat called Patton the best wide receiver on the field over the past two days, agreeing that he is likely to start against the Rams, but going as far as saying that he would likely be the man at the split end spot in that matchup. "Beat Keith Reaser with a post route for a long catch on the first play of 7 on 7s," reports Cohn from practice on Saturday.

"Quinton Patton provided the best highlight on a pad-less day of work," said Taylor Price of 49ers Media. "The fourth-year receiver caught a 40-yard deep ball from Blaine Gabbert down the left hashmarks. Patton continues to excel as a first-team receiver opposite of Torrey Smith."

Pro Football Focus listed Patton as a likely starter for the 49ers within a group of receivers that ranked among the worst in the league. Patton was drafted by the 49ers in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Louisiana Tech.

Could this be the season that the 6-foot Patton finally emerges as a legitimate receiving threat? He is hoping to prove that he is as training camp moves forward.



LISTEN

Facebook Comments



More San Francisco 49ers News



49ers expect Brock Purdy to begin throwing this week

By David Bonilla
May 30

The San Francisco 49ers expect their second-year quarterback, Brock Purdy, to start throwing again this week. Purdy underwent surgery on March 10 to repair the tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow, an injury sustained on January 29 in the NFC Championship Game. The expectations were always for the quarterback to start throwing again in early June. Purdy won't be doing anything excessive at first. He will likely be limited as this portion of his rehabilitation begins, and his workload will ramp up in the coming months. Purdy's return timeline remains up in the air. However, the team will know more once he starts throwing again. Head



Purdy? Lance? Darnold? 49ers insider predicts Week 1 starting QB

By David Bonilla
Jun 1

Everyone is trying to predict the San Francisco 49ers' starting quarterback when the team takes the field during Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Will it be Brock Purdy, Trey Lance, or Sam Darnold? Purdy started some light throwing this week while under some careful supervision. He is nearly three months removed from the surgery to repair the tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow, an injury suffered during the NFC Championship Game. Purdy's workload will ramp up, and the 49ers remain hopeful that he can begin throwing normally before the start of the regular season—maybe even sometime during training camp. The second-year quarterback hasn't had any setbacks, so that is certainly



49ers cancel final week of OTAs, move up minicamp dates

By David Bonilla
Jun 2

The San Francisco 49ers announced today that they are canceling the third and final week of organized team activities (OTAs) and moving up their mandatory minicamp to next week. The team's mandatory minicamp was initially scheduled to begin on June 13 and run through June 15. It will now begin on June 6, with practices at 10:40 a.m. PT on Tuesday and 10:50 a.m. PT on Wednesday. Both sessions will be open to the media. Head coach Kyle Shanahan and select players are scheduled to speak with reporters on Tuesday, and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks and players will field questions from the media on Wednesday. Initially scheduled to be a three-day minicamp, the 49ers will likely give players the third day off from practice, as they have done in



Breer: 49ers QB Brock Purdy throwing without pain, on track to be ready by Week 1

By David Bonilla
Jun 5

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy started throwing again last week, his first significant throwing session (with a football, at least) since the NFC Championship Game in January when he tore the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow. Purdy underwent surgery on March 10 to repair the damage and isn't expected to be cleared to hit the practice field for several months. The 49ers liked what they saw from his limited work last week. "He's just had one session thus far, but we're incredibly encouraged by that," general manager John Lynch said last week during an interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "And Brock's a worker. If you give him a


Featured

Trending News

Share 49ersWebzone