Jacob Cowing just dropped an 84-yard punt return for a touchdown in the 49ers’ 40-9 preseason beatdown of the Los Angeles Chargers, and if that play had come in a regular season game, it would have been the first time a Niner pulled off a punt return TD since 2011. Yeah, 2011! That’s an eternity in NFL years.
Cowing’s Cannonball Run And A 15-Year Wait
That 84-yard punt return was absolutely electric, a total highlight reel play in what was only the 49ers’ second preseason outing. Coach Kyle Shanahan, who has done some serious work transforming that roster from bottom-feeder to a juggernaut, even called it “huge” after the game. Imagine the roar if that happened at Levi’s Stadium in a real game! On the other sideline, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh must have had some serious deja vu watching Cowing fly. He was the 49ers’ head coach back in 2011, the last time one of his guys took a punt to the house in a regular season game. You want to talk about specific memories? That last one was Ted Ginn Jr. taking it 55 yards against our very own Seattle Seahawks on September 11, 2011. Think about that for a second: Fifteen years, people. Fifteen long years without a single punt return for six points! Cowing absolutely showed out big time, even if it was just preseason. It puts the entire league on notice.
Return Specialist Or Nothing At All?
Here’s the real deal about Jacob Cowing: he might not be lighting it up as a wide receiver just yet. Against the Chargers, he was targeted seven times but only reeled in two catches for a mere 14 yards. The 49ers’ receiving corps is already stacked and super competitive, starting with veteran Mike Evans and rookie De’Zhaun Stribling battling it out for snaps. But guess what? Cowing doesn’t need to be catching balls from Brock Purdy if he can consistently keep returning punts like that. He just needs to secure those kicks from the other team’s punter and give the 49ers some killer field position, plain and simple.
Think about Ted Ginn Jr. again, the guy who made history fifteen years ago. He wasn’t exactly known as a “demon wide receiver” but he was absolutely a “terrific returner.” The 49ers’ return game suffered big time in 2011 when Ginn wasn’t on the field, remember the struggles with Kyle Williams in that NFC Championship game? Cowing could absolutely be that kind of game-changer for them. He’s reportedly the fastest player on the team, which is a massive advantage for any return specialist. Even Deebo Samuel tried his hand at punt returns earlier in the game, but one rolled into the end zone and the other was fair caught. Shanahan isn’t ready to hand Cowing the job just yet, saying “Not yet,” but he did add a telling line: “But I like that he is making it easier.” That’s high praise.
So, yeah, it was preseason, and the regular season special teams units are a totally different animal compared to backups. But Cowing just put everyone on notice with that explosive play. The 49ers have been waiting a long, long time for someone to bring back a punt for a touchdown. If he keeps this up and solidifies his role, Cowing might just be the guy to finally end that 15-year drought. Keep your eyes peeled on this kid, because he just might change their special teams game for good.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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