The San Francisco 49ers are giving Dante Pettis another shot.
According to several reports, the former Washington wide receiver was signed by San Francisco on Tuesday after a tryout, with the team moving quickly because of a wave of injuries at the position. Pettis is currently on the 49ers’ practice squad.
The timing makes sense for a team that is short-handed at wide receiver. Mike Evans, Demarcus Robinson, Ricky Pearsall and De'Zhaun Stribling are all sidelined with various ailments, and Pettis gives the 49ers an experienced option who already knows the organization well.
San Francisco originally drafted Pettis in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, and his strongest season as a pro came right away. As a rookie, he caught 27 passes for 467 yards and five touchdowns.
Pettis, now 30, built his NFL path on a standout Washington career that made him one of the country’s premier return men. In 2017, he was first-team All-Pac-12 and a consensus All-American, and he was recognized as the best return specialist in the nation after leading the NCAA in total punt return yardage and average yards returned per punt.
At Washington from 2014-17, Pettis finished with 163 receptions for 2,256 yards and 24 touchdowns in 53 games. He also became a record-setter on special teams, returning 90 punts for 1,274 yards and nine touchdowns. When he left the Pacific Northwest, those nine punt return scores were the most in FBS history, and that mark still stands.
Pettis has bounced around the league since being drafted, spending time with the 49ers, New York Giants, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills. He last appeared in a regular season game in 2025 with the Saints. The Bills signed him on July 30 after a workout, but he was released on Aug. 29 without playing in a game.
Across 66 games and 21 starts, Pettis has 92 catches for 1,231 yards and 13 touchdowns.
He could be elevated to the 53-man roster on game day for Sunday’s matchup against the Denver Broncos, set for 1:25 p.m. PT at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
In Other News...
Washington Must Solve USCs Biggest Mismatch To Get Back On Track
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Bowman has emerged quickly for USC, giving the Trojans a reliable target early in his career and adding another layer to a matchup Washington cannot afford to misread. His production through five games has already shown why he draws so much attention, but the bigger issue for the Huskies is what he can do when defenses start keying on him and still have to account for the rest of USCs skill talent. If Washington is going to get back on track, this is the kind of mismatch it has to solve before it turns into a long night. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Could Get A Crucial Veteran Boost Very Soon
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Uiagaleleis case is tied to a legal injunction involving NCAA eligibility rule changes, so the decision sits outside the usual football calendar and leaves his status unresolved for now. For Washington, the appeal is obvious: a proven interior defender with a year in the program already under his belt could give the Huskies a much-needed boost, if the ruling eventually goes their way. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Has A Second Half Problem It Cant Bring To USC
Washingtons offense has spent the early part of the season searching for a cleaner rhythm after halftime, and the third quarter has been the biggest culprit. Through four games, the Huskies have had trouble coming out of the locker room with the kind of sharp execution they need, even as the defense has generally settled in better once the second half starts. Quarterback Demond Williams Jr. and wide receiver Kevin Cumming both pointed to the need for better adjustments and cleaner operation as the schedule turns toward a tougher test.
No. 18 Southern California brings a different level of pressure, which makes Washingtons slow starts even more concerning. The Huskies can lean on the fact that their defense has usually been more effective after halftime, but the offense has not matched that trend, and recent opening drives in the second half have not exactly suggested a fix is already in place. For a team trying to avoid falling behind the Trojans, the issue is no longer just about playing better late. It is about finding a way to arrive there with the game still within reach. [Read more 🡒]