Amid the Injury Armageddon that has plagued the San Francisco 49ers' wide receiver room, one bright spot has been shining. Second-year man Jordan Watkins has gone from healthy scratch at the beginning of the season to occasional first-read in Kyle Shanahan's offense.
Many assumed his days out wide were numbered, given the addition of Keenan Allen and the impending returns of both Deebo Samuel and Mike Evans. If and when all wideouts are healthy, the sophomore may struggle to earn snaps at such a crowded (and experienced) position.
However, if offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak has anything to say about it, Watkins might be here to stay.
The OC said the following about the young revelation in a recent presser:
"If J-Wat keeps doing what he's doing, we can't keep him off the field. He's making plays. It's a big part of what we're doing on offense right now."
Jordan Watkins' new role may be more permanent than initially thought
Jordan Watkins, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, and Keenan Allen. Add in last week's return of Demarcus Robinson and the future recovery of second-round pick De'Zhaun Stribling. If all are healthy, it's difficult to see where Watkins, a third-round nobody, could carve out a role. His presence on the field means that one or more of these high-profile pass catchers will have to watch from the sidelines at his expense.
But Kubiak's sentiments make one thing clear. In a group full of veterans and future Hall of Famers, the Niners' coordinator is looking for players who will help win games, regardless of the name on the back of their jersey.
That's not to say Watkins will be able to cakewalk his way to success, but he has shown a dynamic upside that much of the receiving room doesn't have, and he wouldn't be the first Niner to earn a role despite not having the prototypical resume.
Players like Jordan Mason and Jauan Jennings were both undrafted free agents who proved their worth to the organization. Though they were presented with competition, they earned roles simply by outplaying others. And lest we forget that the very quarterback Watkins is catching passes from once went by the name of "Mr. Irrelevant."
At the end of the day, the organization has put a culture in place that rewards performance over pedigree.
49ers have clearly outlined how Jordan Watkins can keep himself in the mix
In the press conference, Kubiak went on to talk about how Watkins knows he has to keep producing if he wants to stay on the field. He also praised the youngster's efforts in the passing game, something Shanahan has notoriously preached when dictating wide receiver playing time.
Brandon Aiyuk, for example, found that out the hard way, when he struggled to earn snaps until he bought into the age-old "no block, no rock" philosophy.
Watkins has wasted no time embracing that concept, evidenced by the 49ers' combined 313 team rushing yards over the past two games.
The bottom line is that good things keep happening when the wideout has been on the field. Regardless of what other healthy pass catchers remain in the fold on any given week, the young up-and-comer has officially entrenched himself in the minds of his coaches.
What started as a pipe dream has transformed into a real opportunity for the 24-year-old, and if he continues to produce, there is no reason to fix what's not broken.
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