The 49ers’ Jordan Watkins dilemma didn’t get any cleaner Thursday night. If anything, the preseason finale against the Raiders left San Francisco with more to sort through, not less.
Watkins entered the summer already facing an uphill climb. He missed most of his rookie season because of injuries, and the 49ers added multiple receivers during the offseason. That made him look like a longshot for the 53-man roster before the games even started.
But with preseason action now wrapped, Watkins at least gave the coaching staff something to think about. He finished Thursday with four catches for 64 yards, and over the three-game preseason he totaled 164 yards. Among 49ers wideouts, that was the most productive showing over the exhibition slate.
The problem is that production alone may not be enough.
San Francisco has a crowded group of B- and C-level receivers fighting for one, maybe two, of the final spots on the depth chart, and Watkins didn’t fully separate himself. The positives were there on the stat sheet, but the rough edges were there too.
He doesn’t look like a real answer in the return game, which would have helped his case. And at 5-foot-11 and 196 pounds, he also hasn’t shown much in the blocking department, another area that can tilt a roster battle in a player’s favor.
Late in the fourth quarter, Watkins was still on the field, but that doesn’t necessarily tell the whole story. It could mean Kyle Shanahan was giving him one last look. It could also mean Watkins was simply filling out the final minutes while the 49ers tried to avoid unnecessary injuries to other receivers.
Either way, the decision on Watkins just got a lot harder to read.
In Other News...
49ers May Have Just Caught A Break In Week 1 Prep
The Rams are heading into Week 1 with more than one question hanging over their receiving group, and the 49ers have taken notice. Puka Nacua is dealing with a groin injury, and there is also the possibility of a suspension tied to a civil lawsuit, leaving Los Angeles to sort through its options as it gets ready for San Francisco. The Rams added some depth by trading for Tutu Atwell, who had previously signed with the Dolphins, but Nacua remains the central concern in the buildup.
From the 49ers side, the safest approach is to prepare as if Nacua will be on the field, even if his status is still unsettled. That kind of uncertainty can change how a defense studies tendencies and plans matchups, especially in a season opener where every detail matters. For now, San Francisco can only wait and watch how much of the Rams passing picture comes into focus before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Could Be Waiting On A Serious Jed York Decision
The NFLs review of Jed Yorks arrest has now become part of the 49ers backdrop, with Commissioner Roger Goodell confirming the league is looking at the matter under its personal conduct policy. York was arrested in Ohio after an undercover operation tied to prostitution charges, and the case ended with a no contest plea to disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools, followed by a one-day jail sentence, a fine and completion of an online course.
What comes next is the part the franchise is waiting on. The league has not yet announced whether York will face any discipline, leaving the 49ers with a situation that could linger beyond the courtroom and into the business of the season. Even for an organization that has spent plenty of time in the spotlight, this is the kind of off-field development that can keep drawing attention until the NFL makes its decision. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Roster Bubble Suddenly Feels Tighter Than Fans Realized
The back end of the 49ers roster has gotten a little more interesting as the preseason winds down, with a cluster of lesser-known names suddenly worth tracking. Defensive linemen CJ West, James Thompson Jr. and Bryson Eason have all surfaced as players trying to carve out a place, while Dugger is part of the same conversation as the team sorts through depth and recent injury status at multiple spots. For a club that routinely asks young, unproven players to fill real roles, these August evaluations can matter as much as anything else on the calendar.
San Francisco also brought in pass rusher Jah Joyner for a workout ahead of the preseason finale, another sign the staff is still looking for answers before trimming the roster. And while thats about the immediate picture, theres already a faint eye toward the future, with one mock draft projection tying the 49ers to Stanford offensive tackle Niki Prongos. Its the kind of overlap the 49ers always seem to have at this time of year: present-day auditions on one side, future planning quietly taking shape on the other. [Read more 🡒]