Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: 10 players to watch during 2019 training camp

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - AUGUST 7: San Francisco 49ers stretch during a practice session at Levi's Stadium on August 7, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - AUGUST 7: San Francisco 49ers stretch during a practice session at Levi's Stadium on August 7, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 23: Wide receiver Jordan Matthews #80 of the Philadelphia Eagles warsm up before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 23: Wide receiver Jordan Matthews #80 of the Philadelphia Eagles warsm up before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

No. 5: Wide Receiver Jordan Matthews

Last season, no 49ers wide receiver reached 500 receiving yards. While the problems were compound and multiple, there’s no getting around the fact that stat is bad.

So it made sense why the team spent considerable effort revamping this unit, bringing aboard rookie pass catchers Deebo Samuel and Jalen Hurd in the draft, and previously signing veteran wideout Jordan Matthews to a one-year deal.

Matthews seemed to be on the roster bubble heading into OTAs. But strong performances both there and at minicamp have likely pushed Matthews into more of a safe zone.

At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Matthews offers one thing many of San Francisco’s other wide receivers lack: size. And with 16 of his 22 career touchdowns coming within the red zone — an area in which the 49ers struggled last year — one can see how Matthews earning a spot on the 53-man roster would be an excellent thing.

But the question will be whether or not Matthews can keep it up when the pads come on and both press coverage and tackling are allowed.

Remember, he totaled a mere 582 receiving yards the past two seasons combined with the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills, so the Niners have to hope those numbers were mere anomalies and nothing more.