Niner Noise
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49ers 3 most burning questions entering Week 2 of 2019 NFL preseason

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 23: Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers walks on the field after injuring his knee during their NFL game against the Chicago Bears at Levi’s Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 23: Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers walks on the field after injuring his knee during their NFL game against the Chicago Bears at Levi’s Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

No. 2: What to Make out of Wide Receiver Dante Pettis

He might have started slow during his 2018 rookie season. But wide receiver Dante Pettis looked the part of a true No. 1 weapon over his final five games of the regular season last year.

Pettis has had his share of moments in training camp. But there has been a lack of consistency, according to most reports.

Perhaps NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco summed it up best:

"Pettis has been solid in training camp. I would not classify him as a disappointment. But he should be stepping up and making more plays. That was clearly the expectation for him after last season. Pettis needs to play with more urgency and aggression. That is why rookies Samuel and Jalen Hurd have stood out on the practice field. Both play the game hard."

There are often two different trajectories for second-year players. One argument says players make their biggest jump between years one and two, while the other points out the possibility of a sophomore slump.

San Francisco suffered a lot of sophomore slumps in 2018, following some impressive rookie campaigns back in 2017.

The hope is Pettis won’t fall into the latter category, emerging as a legitimate offensive weapon for Kyle Shanahan.

That said, Pettis has a long way to go to improve his stock value leading into Week 1.