SF 49ers: 5 biggest disappointments over first quarter of 2020
By Peter Panacy
No. 4: SF 49ers wideouts Dante Pettis, Trent Taylor haven’t contributed
The Niners had a major weakness at wide receiver early this season, namely with Deebo Samuel out and rookie wideout Brandon Aiyuk missing Week 1 with a hamstring injury.
A lack of depth suggested Kyle Shanahan could involve two of his embattled returnees looking to rekindle their careers, Dante Pettis and Trent Taylor. And there were reasons to believe such would happen, too.
Taylor looked like his old 2017 self in training camp, while Pettis seemed to shake off the disastrous 2019 campaign that resulted in him being inactive for Super Bowl LIV.
It hasn’t happened, though.
Over these first four weeks, Pettis has yet to record his first catch on the season. Taylor’s stat line isn’t much better: five catches for 37 yards. Neither has been much of a factor, both on offense and on special teams.
The optimism surrounding both players bouncing back last year, Taylor from a foot injury and Pettis from his own regression, has all but dissipated four weeks into the year. Now, perhaps more than ever in both their careers, Taylor and Pettis are seemingly nothing more than third-string reserve players holding up roster spots.
And it’s not likely either player makes a significant impact for San Francisco anytime soon, if at all.