San Francisco 49ers receiver Jordan Watkins only has two catches this season, but head coach Kyle Shanahan says that doesn’t tell the story of how the team views the young pass-catcher
Asked Thursday what Watkins has to do to be more involved in the passing game, Shanahan said his opportunities have mostly come from injuries ahead of him as a backup for Deebo Samuel and Mike Evans. Now, with injuries abounding in the offense, Watkins has a chance to find more snaps.
Watkins’ production has been limited but efficient. He caught both of his targets for 60 yards in the Week 3 win over the Arizona Cardinals. He wasn’t targeted in the Week 4 win over the Denver Broncos or the Week 5 win at Seattle, though he started against the Seahawks and has played
62 offensive snaps this year. However, the praise he's earned from the coaching staff derives more from his effort on the field than his production.
“I think he’s earned a lot of respect in these three games and with us it doesn’t have to do with the stats,” Shanahan said. “... He’s blocked well, he’s run good routes, he’s gotten open. We’ve been really happy with how he’s stepped up in these few games.”
Now with the injuries to Samuel on top of missing Demarcus Robinson and the other top pass-catchers, Watkins could see a bump in chances. Christian Kirk is designated to return from injured reserve and Evans is battling multiple injuries, meaning that Watkins can carve out a role in this offense regardless of if he's seeing targets.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Kyle Shanahan explains why 49ers young WR has earned respect
