Jordan Watkins finally got his shot in the San Francisco 49ers’ win over the Arizona Cardinals, and he made it count.
After being a healthy scratch in the first two games of the season, Watkins went to Kyle Shanahan last week and asked what he needed to do to get on the field. With injuries piling up at wide receiver, the 49ers had a need, and Watkins answered it with his best showing yet.
He finished with two explosive catches for 60 yards, turning limited chances into real production. He moved the chains, created big plays, and gave the offense something it needed.
“He had a real good week of practice, seemed very ready for going into the game, and he got those two opportunities on two pass plays that he did a really good job on,” said Shanahan. “Two really good routes and caught it real firm and ran good with the ball after. And I thought he played solid in the run game and throughout the rest of the game.”
That kind of outing should help Watkins’ standing. At the very least, it gives Shanahan a reason to trust him a little more and maybe expand his role.
But the timing isn’t ideal. The 49ers brought back Dante Pettis on Tuesday, and that adds another body to a receiver room already dealing with uncertainty. If Watkins doesn’t keep building on what he showed against Arizona, he could get pushed back down the depth chart.
That’s the reality in San Francisco. One good game doesn’t lock anything in, especially for a player who has already spent time on the sideline. Watkins still has to prove it every week, and there’s a real chance he could end up inactive again if he doesn’t keep delivering.
Pettis’ return also fits the way Shanahan and the 49ers tend to operate. Familiar players often come back with a little extra credit, even if the previous run didn’t end especially well for them. Pettis brings that familiarity, and it clearly matters.
There’s also the depth angle. San Francisco may simply be looking at the injury trend and expecting more trouble at receiver. Given how this season has gone, it would hardly be a surprise if another wideout got hurt soon.
So the message for Watkins is simple: keep stacking performances like the one he had against Arizona. If he does, more targets should follow, and with them a stronger grip on his place in the offense.
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