49ers: 5 players who are playing final season with San Francisco
By Peter Panacy
No. 1: 49ers Wide Receiver Dante Pettis
Late in 2018, all signs were pointing towards then-rookie wide receiver Dante Pettis being an integral part of the 49ers offense.
San Francisco 49ers
After all, over his final five games that year, Pettis posted up 359 receiving yards, four touchdowns and averaged 71.8 yards per contest during that stretch.
Everything seemingly fell apart the following year, however.
What started in training camp, in which Pettis struggled with the too-apparent focus drops, carried over into the regular season. Pettis started off the year as a seldom-used starter, eventually was downgraded to a backup and was even left inactive for Super Bowl LIV.
There’s no way around the fact Pettis is in Kyle Shanahan’s doghouse.
It’s a tough place from which to bounce back. Falling out of Shanahan’s good graces hasn’t proven to be a beneficial challenge. Matt Breida was a key example, as the Niners moved him to the Miami Dolphins even after the running back seemingly didn’t do anything to suggest he was deserving of being moved.
Plus, with San Francisco adding two more wide receivers in this year’s NFL Draft, signs are pointing to Pettis having no better a role on offense this upcoming season.
Next. 5 veteran Niners who may be gone after 2020 NFL Draft. dark
And it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Niners give up on their 2018 second-round pick three years into his four-year rookie deal.