Top takeaways from Week 3 of 49ers’ 2019 OTAs

The San Francisco 49ers are completing their third and final week of OTAs, and Niner Noise breaks down the latest reports and analysis from these offseason sessions.

Tuesday marked the final day members of the media would be able to attend San Francisco 49ers organized team activities (OTAs).

And while there was some focus on the practice sessions during this final OTA week, the majority of attention was given to one of the more heralded Niners in recent history, linebacker NaVorro Bowman.

Bowman was in attendance at San Francisco’s practice facility outside Levi’s Stadium. He announced his plans to retire from the NFL after an eight-year career, which included four nominations to the Pro Bowl and three first-team All-Pro selections. The 49ers released Bowman in the middle of the 2017 season when he began to lose playing time to then-Niners linebacker Reuben Foster. Bowman finished out the year with the Oakland Raiders before going unsigned in 2018.

Per the reports, San Francisco is planning on signing Bowman to a one-day contract, so he can retire with the team.

Once practice concluded, Bowman was asked to break down the team huddle, as shown in the video below from the San Jose Mercury News‘ Cam Inman:

Kendrick Bourne Making Strides

According to The Athletic’s David Lombardi, third-year wide receiver Kendrick Bourne was making a number of splash plays during Tuesday’s sessions.

Bourne, who led all Niners wideouts with 487 receiving yards last year, looks to be locked in for a training camp position battle with one of the newer members of the team, Jordan Matthews, who had also made a number of splash catches the previous two weeks.

There’s a good chance San Francisco keeps just one of these two receivers on the 53-man roster this season, so this budding position battle will be one to watch.

Deebo Samuel Sits, but Has Been Getting Extra Practice Time

The 49ers brought in wide receiver help during the offseason after Bourne was the team leader in receiving yards at the position, and one such player is the team’s second-round NFL Draft pick, Deebo Samuel.

According to The Athletic’s Matt Barrows, Samuel sat out Tuesday’s practice session with what Barrows termed a “minor injury.”

Still, it seems as if the former South Carolina standout has been getting in extra work, both on weekends outside of practice and with one of the Niners’ new assistants, Wes Welker, who was featured running sprints with Samuel, recently:

The 49ers are hoping Samuel will end up occupying the role they envisioned for former wide receiver Pierre Garçon, who was let go earlier this offseason.

San Francisco will conclude its final OTA practice on Thursday, June 6 before preparing for mandatory minicamp on June 13.

Training camp will kick off some time in late July, although the dates have yet to be announced, officially.