5 mistakes Kyle Shanahan, SF 49ers can’t afford to make vs. Jets
By Peter Panacy
No. 5: SF 49ers can’t give up on Dante Pettis yet
It’s very possible the Niners are going to phase out third-year wide receiver Dante Pettis after he flamed out in 2019 and saw just one target, an overthrown incomplete pass, in Week 1 versus the Cardinals.
Especially after San Francisco onboarded veteran wide receiver Mohamed Sanu in advance of Sunday’s game.
But looking back at the film and game tape — shown here by Niners Nation’s Kyle Posey — shows Pettis getting open quite a bit, which was one of the preconceived knocks against him before the All-22 coaches film came out on Wednesday.
The problem? Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo either didn’t see Pettis or didn’t trust him.
Granted, Pettis might never be the player he was initially thought to be back during his 2018 rookie season, and the SF 49ers may simply move on sooner than later. But the context for Week 2 might mean Pettis gets another legitimate shot.
Especially considering it’ll take Sanu at least a little bit up to speed and the added fact rookie wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, expected back from a training camp hamstring injury, has yet to take a regular-season snap at the pro level.
Put simply, Pettis gets another chance almost by default.