Jordan Watkins entered the summer of 2025 as a fourth-round pick the San Francisco 49ers hoped could help deepen a receiver group thinned by injury. Two weeks into training camp, though, the early returns have not been strong enough to make that bet look safe.
The 49ers arrived at camp already dealing with early injury trouble, including a season-ending injury for Ricky Pearsall and soft-tissue issues for Mike Evans. That created an opening for young pass catchers to earn more trust, but Watkins has not taken advantage of it. Instead, he and De'Zhaun Stribling have been trending in opposite directions, with Stribling clearly the more reliable target so far.
Watkins has not matched the opportunity
Matt Burrows pointed to the difference between the two receivers in camp, noting that both players are seeing plenty of passes. The difference, he said, is that Stribling has been able to haul in the tougher throws across the middle, while Watkins has not consistently brought those balls in.
That matters because the 49ers are looking for usable depth, not just raw tools. Watkins has the size and arm talent that made him a fourth-round pick, but the camp problem is simple: he has to catch the ball when it comes his way. If he cannot do that in practice, it becomes harder to justify a roster spot on a team that needs dependable production behind its top options.
The rookie season did not help either
Watkins also did not build much momentum in his 2025 rookie season. Injuries limited him, and he finished with just two catches in four games. That is not nearly enough of a sample to declare his NFL future over, but it does mean the 49ers are still waiting to see the version of Watkins they thought they were drafting.
For a young receiver, camp is often about stacking small wins. A clean route here, a contested catch there, a few more trusted reps with the quarterbacks. Watkins has not done enough of that yet, and with two weeks of camp already in the books, the pressure is starting to build.
What comes next
The situation is not final, but it is moving in the wrong direction for Watkins. The 49ers need young receivers to step up because of the injuries around them, and Stribling has been the better answer so far. Watkins still has time to change the conversation, but he will need a much stronger finish to training camp to make his roster case feel secure.
At this point, the question is no longer whether Watkins has a path. It is whether he can take advantage of the one he still has.
