49ers Offensive Coordinator Klay Kubiak Anticipates Larger Role for Rising Second-Year Wide Receiver Jordan Watkins
The San Francisco 49ers are facing a significant reshaping of their passing offense as they prepare to take the field without star wide receiver Mike Evans, a development confirmed by general manager John Lynch during a recent radio appearance. San Francisco entered the week with an already depleted wide receiver corps, and the team will now lean heavily on a group that includes Brandin Cooks, Christian Kirk, Jordan Watkins, Jacob Cowing, Malik Turner, and potentially a reinforcement promoted from the practice squad.
The absence of Evans during the second half of this past week’s game triggered an immediate shift in snap distribution among the team’s wideouts. Jordan Watkins earned the start ahead of both Cooks and Cowing, logging 47 snaps to lead all San Francisco receivers. Brandin Cooks followed with 32 snaps, while Jacob Cowing saw action on just 15 plays. This represented a notable rotation shift from the week prior, when Cowing had out-snapped both Cooks and Watkins.
Despite playing a team-high 47 snaps, Watkins was targeted just once in the contest, converting the single look into a 22-yard reception. With Evans sidelined for the foreseeable future, that production and target share will likely need to expand as quarterback Brock Purdy searches for reliable passing options downfield. When asked about the limited targets despite heavy playing time, offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak defended the young receiver’s utilization.
The lack of targets and opportunities has nothing to do with him, Kubiak told reporters, praising the second-year pass catcher’s daily approach. He is doing a heck of a job, and Jordan’s playing the right way down in and down out. We’ve been really happy with him. Sometimes it’s just circumstances and where the ball goes. There were things in the game we were trying to get to him and the ball ended up going the other way, so it’s not really [an] amount of targets.
Kubiak expressed complete confidence that increased productivity is on the horizon for the young wideout. He’s doing everything right and the ball is going to find him because he’s playing the right way, Kubiak said. Jordan’s just got to keep going and the ball’s going to go where it goes, just like every down. The way Jordan’s approaching every play and playing the right way and doing his assignment the right way, fortunate things are going to keep happening for him, so just keep him going.
Watkins faced significant adversity during his rookie campaign, struggling to maintain his health and appearing in only four contests. His debut season yielded minimal statistical output, totaling just three receptions for 26 yards. However, the coaching staff has observed marked improvements in his daily preparation, route-running precision, and separation abilities as other contributors, such as Cowing, trend in the opposite direction regarding playing time.
When asked if the coaching staff is satisfied with Watkins from a route-running and separation standpoint, Kubiak gave an emphatic endorsement. One hundred percent, he’s doing a great job, Kubiak stated, adding that the receiver is also practicing at a high level. He’s gotten better as a player. That’s what we’ve asked him to do is keep working, keep pushing himself. He’s grown a lot as he stepped up more and been more involved in our offense and I expect that to continue to happen.
If the rotation mirrors the adjustments made following Evans’ departure last week, Watkins appears positioned to secure his second consecutive start and another heavy workload in snap counts. Quarterback Brock Purdy will require the remaining receiving corps to generate separation and secure catches, placing an emphasis on Watkins and his peers to step forward as the 49ers navigate their current personnel challenges.
