The San Francisco 49ers may not quite be as desperate at wide receiver as they were a week ago at this time.
This, thanks largely to the return of Jauan Jennings to practice from a calf injury suffered early in training camp. Along with second-year pro Ricky Pearsall, the top end of the Niners' pass-catching depth chart looks modestly OK. Not a full-blown disaster.
It's still thin, though, which helps explain why San Francisco just offered former New England Patriots wideout Kendrick Bourne a contract.
Bourne, whom the Pats recently released, started his career with the 49ers back in 2017 and has a great rapport with head coach Kyle Shanahan, and it's hard not to see why his presence would greatly beef up what's viewed as a weak back end of the depth chart here.
After visiting the Niners, though, Bourne opted not to sign a deal even though one was on the table. Instead, he traveled to visit with the Washington Commanders.
Smart. Unless it was a can't-refuse deal, why not pitch the two offers against each other, right?
Sounds like Bourne is still playing that advantage.
Kendrick Bourne plays the waiting game with 49ers and Commanders
After meeting with the Commanders, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Bourne wasn't going to make a decision just yet, instead opting to wait a week before choosing his next team:
Free agent WR Kendrick Bourne has elected to sit this week out and weigh his options over the weekend and see which team is the best fit, source said. He recently visited the #Commanders and #49ers. pic.twitter.com/oviuiplEnY
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 3, 2025
Honestly, it's not a bad strategy.
Washington already boasts a duo not unfamiliar to San Francisco fans: Terry McLaurin and former 49ers wideout Deebo Samuel, who was dealt there during the offseason. At best, Bourne would be a tertiary option in the nation's capital.
On the surface, the Niners present a better opportunity, at least initially. However, with Jennings' return, Bourne would also be a proverbial "third fiddle" behind San Francisco's leading wide receiver from 2024 and Pearsall. Then, when Brandon Aiyuk makes his return from last year's ACL and MCL tears, possibly around Week 6, Bourne would likely be pushed even further down the depth chart.
Waiting a week might cost Bourne some cash. But it would also allow the context to play itself out for a little longer. Perhaps a key receiver on either team's roster suffers some sort of injury in Week 1, thereby opening the door for a better opportunity in the immediate aftermath.
If not, nothing much has changed for the free-agent veteran.