SF 49ers vs. NY Jets: 4 players who’ll be under the microscope in Week 2
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: SF 49ers Wide Receiver Dante Pettis
The lack of adequate depth at wide receiver in Week 1 ultimately forced third-year wide receiver Dante Pettis into a starting role alongside fellow wideout Kendrick Bourne.
And while none of the Niners’ wide receivers last week thrived in the opportunity to spark San Francisco’s pass game, Pettis seemed to be the lowest on the pecking order behind Bourne and slot receiver Trent Taylor.
Pettis’ line for the day included a mere one deep-ball target, which was overthrown. Aside from that, Jimmy Garoppolo never looked his way.
The 49ers’ recent addition of veteran wide receiver Mohamed Sanu, a former understudy of Kyle Shanahan back with the Atlanta Falcons, cast even more doubts on whether or not Pettis can solidify a role for himself within the offense. After an abysmal 2019 campaign in which the former second-round NFL Draft pick found himself inactive for Super Bowl LIV, Pettis did manage to flash quite a bit in training camp.
At least after one week of regular-season action, it appears that resurgence has gone away.
Yet the Niners are still shorthanded at wide receiver entering Week 2, meaning Pettis still has a shot to climb back up the depth chart and prove to Shanahan and Garoppolo he belongs in the game plan.
Whether or not Pettis seizes the opportunity will be a point of focus this Sunday.