LAS VEGAS — Most of the 49ers’ starters didn’t suit up in their preseason finale in the desert, but three young players made a case to be considered for more significant playing time.
In Thursday’s 18-12 win over the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium, Jordan Watkins, Jordan James and Jaden Dugger all showed flashes of why the team found it important to draft them.
Watkins, who had trouble staying on the field in his rookie year due to injury, had a solid showing when facing the Raiders. The sophomore receiver had his ups and downs as a returner but had some splash plays in both the passing and run game.
Watkins finished the night with four receptions on eight targets for 64 yards, as well as three carries for 27 yards.
Kyle Shanahan has mentioned how Watkins’ injury stunted his growth during his rookie season and the positive change he has seen from the receiver in his second year.
“I think he stepped it up,” Shanahan said. “He’s always had a good attitude, but it’s how much more consistent and how much more can you attack each day. You see how guys come back in year two, and I was real excited with how he came back all the way back to Phase 1 and how he handled OTAs, and he’s done the same thing in training camp.”
James also had his ups and downs. His illegal tackle nullified a touchdown late in the third quarter when Adrian Martinez found Hayden Rucci for a shot pass to the left side, but as a ball carrier, the second-year running back had a solid performance.
The Oregon product ran downhill and with power, making sure that fans didn’t forget about him after Kaelon Black’s standout performance in Los Angeles in the 49ers’ second preseason contest.
James finished the night with eight carries for 35 yards and caught one of his two targets for 20 yards.
“It was good to see him out there,” Shanahan said of James. “He missed a ton of camp with his injury and then had the same thing last year, when he missed all of training camp. I was really excited to watch him tonight, and from what I saw out there live, I thought he ran real hard and ran real well.”
Dugger, who has been playing in multiple positions throughout training camp, had a solid day leading the team with a team-high 10 tackles, including five solo, as well as a play that nearly ended in a sack of Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
“It was good to get him out there playing all the way into the third quarter,” Shanahan said. “He’s a rookie who has an opportunity to be out there a bunch this year, and where he has benefitted is, he didn’t have any setbacks with injuries.
“He’s gotten a lot of playing time, so he’s got a chance to be hopefully ready going into this season. Excited to watch the tape. I thought he had some ups and downs throughout the game, which is why I kept him in there a little longer, but I thought he finished pretty strong.”
Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have a lot of decisions to make in the coming days, and these three young players are hoping to be able to build on their final performances of the preseason.