San Francisco 49ers: 3 players on the hot seat entering 2019

The San Francisco 49ers have officially kicked off their training camp so let’s take a look at three players on the roster who are firmly on the hot seat entering 2019.

The San Francisco 49ers have officially reached the start of training camp which means that the NFL season is right around the corner.

New faces, roster battles, and returning stars will highlight the majority of summer storylines for a 49ers team trying to vastly improve upon their woeful 4-12 record last season. It shouldn’t take a miracle to pull that off, but certain things are going to have to go their way.

And as such, certain players are going to have to step up in a big way.

With new and returning faces, some 49ers players find themselves firmly on the hot seat entering the 2019 season. Whether it’s because of lackluster play or simply increased competition, these three players will be feeling the pressure to perform this summer.

With that, let’s take a look at three 49ers players who are undoubtedly on the hot seat entering training camp.

3. Kendrick Bourne, WR

Perhaps it’s a bit unfair to put Kendrick Bourne on this list seeing as he did lead all 49ers receivers in catches and yards last season. That said, he is by no means guaranteed a roster spot, let alone the same role.

The 49ers will return both Marquise Goodwin and Dante Pettis who both ended last season on the injured reserve — the former missing a good chunk of the season. On top of that, San Francisco drafted two promising wide receivers in Deebo Samuel and Jalen Hurd in the second-round this year.

We could assume that all four of those players have roster spots locked up at this point, barring injury.

That means that the final two spots will be up for grab between the likes of Bourne, veteran Jordan Matthews, and the returning Trent Taylor and Richie James.

James could solidify a role due to his returning skills while Matthews was signed this offseason to give the 49ers better depth on the boundary and provide the team with a big-bodied red-zone threat. Meanwhile, Taylor is an underrated slot option who stands out with his catching and route-running.

Bourne was a fine receiver and he’s a great story, but he doesn’t have one defining trait to make him stand out. He has reliable hands and is relatively physical but should face an uphill battle when it comes to standing out this summer.

He may have led all 49ers receivers last season, but don’t be surprised if Bourne’s not on the roster come September.