Niner Noise
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49ers training camp 2018: Top 10 takeaways from Week 1

By Peter Panacy

ENGLEWOOD, CO - AUGUST 27: Jarryd Hayne #38 of the San Francisco 49ers works out with teammates Dres Anderson #6, Issac Blakeney #1, and Bruce Miller #49 during a joint training session with the San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos at the Denver Broncos Training Facility on August 27, 2015 in Englewood, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
ENGLEWOOD, CO - AUGUST 27: Jarryd Hayne #38 of the San Francisco 49ers works out with teammates Dres Anderson #6, Issac Blakeney #1, and Bruce Miller #49 during a joint training session with the San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos at the Denver Broncos Training Facility on August 27, 2015 in Englewood, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /
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EUGENE, OR – OCTOBER 08: Wide receiver Dante Pettis #8 of the Washington Huskies looks on prior to the game against the Oregon Ducks on October 8, 2016 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR – OCTOBER 08: Wide receiver Dante Pettis #8 of the Washington Huskies looks on prior to the game against the Oregon Ducks on October 8, 2016 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

No. 8: Dante Pettis Started Slow, but Finished Strong

Rookie wide receiver Dante Pettis didn’t get off to the strongest of starts during camp, generally looking sluggish and indecisive over the first two days.

Instead of Pettis, the No. 44 overall selection from the 2018 NFL Draft, the 49ers’ best rookie wideout was seventh-round draftee Richie James — more on him later — according to Fourth and Nine’s Eric Crocker.

But when the pads came on during the third day of practices, Pettis flashed the excellent route-running capabilities he displayed at Washington:

On the above play, he was able to turn the inside and create separation on a slant move against second-year cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon.

And Pettis continued those efforts into day four.

Pettis is all but a lock to make the 53-man roster this season, but he’ll have a tougher time climbing the depth chart over veteran receivers like Pierre Garçon, Marquise Goodwin and Trent Taylor.

If Pettis can continue to make strides like he did in the latter half of the first week, though, he’ll surely assume a more prominent role once the regular season begins.