News 49ers Team Notes

[San Francisco 49ers]

Kyle Shanahan underlines the challenge facing rookie Jordan Watkins

There was a substantial amount of hype around Jordan Watkins heading into preseason after the fourth-round pick’s strong performances in OTAs and training camp.

Following an encouraging showing in the preseason opener, Watkins has essentially had no opportunities to justify that hype, with a succession of injuries keeping the wide receiver from making his 49ers’ regular-season debut until last week’s loss to the Houston Texans.

Watkins had one catch for seven yards and also let a pass go through his hands on third down in the fourth quarter.

The former Ole Miss wideout will hope to have more chances to impress against a depleted New York Giants secondary, but, as Kyle Shanahan articulated on Friday, Watkins’ long road to getting on the field leaves him with an especially difficult challenge to make an impact in his rookie year.

Shanahan said:

“He had a really good OTAs and he got hurt in that first preseason game. I thought Jordan really needed the preseason to fully get ready and I think he would have been, but he missed all of it from there. I think he came back I think Week 2, and then it’s almost like he’s right back to the beginning of training camp, so you hope he can get that in a couple of weeks of practice. He started to do it, and then he hurt something in those two weeks, he pulled something, and then he get another month back, so now he’s getting back into it, but it’s tough for these guys. Same thing happened with Ricky [Pearsall in 2024]. He missed all of training camp as a rookie, then right when he came back he got shot, then it’s a month off and he’s playing the whole season kind of like a rookie training camp. It’s real tough when those guys miss it, puts them really behind the 8-ball, but he’s had two good weeks and hopefully he can continue to stay healthy. If he does, he’ll get there.”

Where there is a difference between Pearsall and Watkins is that, because of the injury to Brandon Aiyuk, Pearsall had a prominent role in the offense right off the bat following his Week 7 debut last year.

Aiyuk has still yet to return from the serious knee injury he suffered in that game, while Pearsall also remains on the sideline with a PCL issue that has seen him miss the last four games.

Still, with Jauan Jennings, Kendrick Bourne, George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey ahead of him in the pecking order in the passing game, Watkins is not in a position to have a huge influence down the stretch as he works through his extended training camp.

Yet Watkins has the physical tools and the route-running savvy to make the most of the opportunities he does get. With a favorable matchup in Week 9, he could to take the first steps towards turning a challenging first season into a successful one.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...es-the-challenge-facing-rookie-jordan-watkins

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Asking price for 49ers pass rush targets is Day 2 pick

The NFL trade deadline is rapidly approaching, and the rumor mill is churning, with the San Francisco 49ers expected to be buyers on Tuesday.

San Francisco started things off with a trade for New England Patriots defensive lineman Keion White, sending a 2026 sixth-round pick and receiving a 2026 seventh-round pick as well.

But, they may not be done, as the 49ers have been making calls on several players and could even acquire more pass-rush help this week. Among the players involved is Miami Dolphins defensive end Jaelen Phillips, who has been involved in a ton of trade talk over the last few weeks.

After the firing of general manager Chris Grier, as well as a 2-7 start to the season, the Dolphins should be inclined to move off pieces, especially expiring contracts like Phillips’s.

The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported on Saturday that San Francisco is among the teams showing interest in Phillips, but the asking price remains fairly high.

“Miami has received interest from the Eagles, 49ers, Patriots and others on OLB Jaelan Phillips (The Dolphins are looking for at least a third-rounder in return),” Russini reported. “They’re also getting calls on DE Bradley Chubb and OLB Matthew Judon.”

San Francisco has traded a third-round pick for a pass-rusher at the deadline in the past, sending one to the Washington Commanders for Chase Young. If they want Phillips, it might be a similar trade.

Phillips has been productive in the past, having 8.5 sacks as a rookie in 2021, seven in 2022, and 6.5 sacks in 2023. He suffered a season-ending injury in 2024, however, and has three sacks in 2025.

The 49ers have their own third-round pick and are currently projected to have three fourth-round compensatory picks, so they do have some midround capital that could be used in a trade. But, there seems to be a clear interest in Phillips from playoff contenders, so the asking price for Miami could very well be met by Tuesday’s trade deadline.

Another potential trade candidate could’ve been New York Giants defensive end Kavyon Thibodeaux, but Russini reported that he is not likely to be traded, with the asking price being a first-round pick. Thibodeaux has 2.5 sacks and 5.5 run stuffs so far this season.

It’s unclear how many moves the 49ers will be willing to make, but another pass-rusher could definitely make sense, especially after the news that Yetur Gross-Matos may be heading to Injured Reserve yet again. San Francisco not only needs healthy bodies, but also more production from pass-rushers, as they rank among the league’s worst in sacks and pressure rate.

Prices do seem high for pass-rushers, so the 49ers may look for a cheaper option, such as Tennessee Titans edge rusher Arden Key, but San Francisco has clearly been evaluating the market and should make another move before the deadline.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...rush-targets-price-day-2-pick-jaelen-phillips

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers will have to wait to get a starter back on offense; Yetur Gross-Matos is headed to the IR

It has been a frustrating tenure with the San Francisco 49ers for edge rusher Yetur Gross-Matos. He struggled to stay on the field during his first season as a Niner because of a lingering knee injury. Gross-Matos hasn’t played since Week 5, when he suffered a hamstring injury.

After reportedly re-aggravating his hamstring injury during practice this week, Gross-Matos has been placed on the Injured Reserve List. In addition to Keion White making his Niners debut, Clelin Ferrell will make his return after being elevated from the practice squad.

Spencer Burford was activated from the Injured Reserve List. However, Ben Bartch will have to wait at least another week. Bartch was downgraded from questionable to out. Kyle Shanahan said on Friday that Burford was closer to returning than Bartch was.

With Bartch missing another week, Nick Zakelj was elevated from the practice squad. We’ll see if there is a rotation at left guard between Zakelj and Connor Colby.

The New York Giants elevated wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud and linebacker Zaire Barnes from the practice squad. They also activated cornerback Rico Payton from the injured reserve.

Deommodore Lenoir and McCloud have had their back-and-forths on social media:

Let’s hope we get at least one target between the two.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...s-matos-ben-bartch-nick-zakelj-clelin-ferrell