Special teams coordinator Brant Boyer spoke with the media on Monday. When asked how the competition for returners was going, he said, “I think [Jacob] Cowing, [Will] Pauling, and [Jordan] Watkins, all those guys are back there. Junior Bergen. There’s a big handful of guys, and hopefully they can make great decisions and catch the ball first and foremost. That’s important.
Boyer stressed decision-making. He continued, saying, “It’s a matter of, can they make the right decisions? Can they block a gunner
when they’re supposed to? Can they let a ball hit the ground when they’re supposed to? Can they go up and catch a fair catch when they’re supposed to? There’s a lot more that goes into it than just returning the ball. We’re trying to find the guy that has the whole package, that we can count on every week, that can catch the ball and make great decisions.”
There isn’t much experience on the roster. All of Jacob Cowing’s stats came in 2024, when he returned 28 punts and a single kickoff. He’s the only one with returner experience. It seems like the punt return job is Cowing’s to lose.
However, the addition of Deebo Samuel might mean Cowing has competition at kick returner. It might also make it more difficult for a player like Cowing to make the roster. Boyer spoke highly of Samuel:
“Well, certainly when they told me that he was coming I was like, ‘Hell yeah. Let’s go.’ Because he is a difference maker. He’s obviously proven and he’s done it at a very, very high level. I’m really anxious, we were all talking about it, to get him in our scheme. I’ve watched him and really liked what he’s done throughout his career, liked him coming out of college. He’s a hell of a player and he’s really tough to tackle. He’s got speed to take it to the house all the time. Again, any time you can add a guy like that to the roster, you’re jumping up for joy as a special teams coach.”
Samuel hasn’t returned a punt in his career, but does have 41 kickoff returns, with 32 of those coming in the previous two seasons.
During his final season with the 49ers, Deebo averaged 31.3 yards per return, including a 60-yarder. Last season with the Commanders, Samuel was still over 30 yards per return and had a 69-yarder. Both of those would have been among the top 5 had Samuel had enough attempts to qualify.
If the 49ers used Samuel to return in 2024, when the receiving room was thin, you’d think they’d give him the opportunity in 2026, with Mike Evans and De’Zhaun Stribling on the roster, no?
Perhaps the team will see what Watkins, Pauling, and Bergen show in the preseason. If they aren’t up to par or look like they bring anything to the table, the fallback option is Deebo.
