49ers training camp: 1 key battle to watch at each position
By Peter Panacy
49ers training camp battle: No. 3 tight end behind George Kittle, Ross Dwelley
San Francisco doesn’t have to worry much about the top end of its tight end depth chart, where George Kittle will look to bounce back from an injury-plagued 2020 campaign, and the 49ers have essentially handed his primary backup, Ross Dwelley, a much bigger role after having to play alongside now-retired tight end Jordan Reed for much of last year.
Third-string tight ends normally don’t generate a lot of attention, but that’s going to be the primary battle to watch during training camp at this particular spot.
If there’s one thing a No. 3 tight end has to be able to do, it’s to block effectively.
That’s a trait both second-year pro Charlie Woerner and another offseason veteran addition, MyCole Pruitt, have heading into 2021. Yet Woerner, who wasn’t much of an offensive weapon at all during his college years, showed some atrocious route-running abilities his rookie season. True, Pruitt has only 32 receptions, 343 yards and four touchdowns dating back to 2015, so he’s not exactly a massive offensive-threat upgrade.
But he might be able to offer a little more in that department than Woerner without sacrificing much of anything with regards to blocking.
The undrafted rookie, Josh Pederson, is likely vying for a spot on the practice squad.