On the eve of the regular season, veteran free-agent wide receiver Kendrick Bourne reportedly had the option to pick between one of two offers on the table, from both the Washington Commanders and San Francisco 49ers.
Instead of jumping at the best opportunity right then and there, Bourne opted to wait a week to weigh his options.
Turns out, that might have been the right choice.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Bourne is signing with the Niners on a one-year deal worth up to $5 million:
Kendrick Bourne is returning home to the San Francisco 49ers on a 1 year deal with a max value of 5 Million Dollars! Per @HenryOrgann and @AgentBigAl of @DisruptiveSports
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 8, 2025
There's one caveat that likely convinced Bourne to pick San Francisco as his next destination.
Jauan Jennings' Week 1 injury prompted Kendrick Bourne to join 49ers
The 49ers won their Week 1 opener over the Seattle Seahawks 17-13, but the NFC West bout didn't come without a cost.
Tight end George Kittle and wide receiver Jauan Jennings both exited the game with injuries -- a hamstring and shoulder, respectively -- and Fox Sports' Pam Oliver reported during the game that Jennings couldn't even lift his arm after suffering his setback.
It's brutal for Jennings, especially in light of him dealing with both a calf injury during training camp and seeking a long-term extension that ultimately didn't pan out beyond a 2025 pay raise.
Soon, it'll go public the extent of the damage for Jennings, but it's probably safe to assume he'll miss time, meaning the Niners will again be limited with their pass-catching options as they prepare for a Week 2 showdown against the New Orleans Saints.
As for Bourne, who started his NFL career with San Francisco back in 2017 before joining the New England Patriots as a free agent in 2021, he already has familiarity with head coach Kyle Shanahan's system, and all that's remaining is to develop some chemistry with quarterback Brock Purdy in a Jennings-like role.
That hopefully won't take as long as bringing in a fresh-faced receiver who has never played under Shanahan before, meaning the transition hopefully winds up being an easy one.
At this point, San Francisco needs all the help it can get amid the latest wave of injuries, and while Bourne might not push Shanahan's squad into Super Bowl contention all by himself, the wideout's presence should make a substantial difference.