Jordan Watkins logged a wild 52 snaps in Week 9, blowing past every other wideout on the team by a full 17 snaps, a massive jump for a guy who was a healthy scratch way back in Week 1. This dude is seriously stepping up, growing right before our eyes.
From Healthy Scratch to Run Game Beast
Seriously, remember Week 1? Watkins was on the sidelines, a healthy scratch, and it was mostly because his physicality wasn’t where it needed to be. He was still figuring out the blocking game, learning the ropes in the NFL. But man, has he ever improved! General Manager John Lynch is openly “proud” of the journey Watkins has been on, talking about how the team had “high hopes” for him coming out of Ole Miss. Lynch even recalled talking to Lane Kiffin, Watkins’ college coach, about his “outstanding talent” and “a lot of juice,” even though he was “hampered a bit there by injuries” at Ole Miss.
It wasn’t easy, though. Watkins had to fight for his spot, especially with a solid wide receiver room. Lynch admitted there were “some frustrations on Jordan’s part” along the way. But to his absolute credit, this guy kept “grinding.” It would’ve been super easy for Watkins to just feel sorry for himself, make excuses, and settle. But that’s not what happened.
The Shanahan Conversation That Changed Everything
The turning point? A conversation with Head Coach Kyle Shanahan. According to Lynch, Shanahan basically told Watkins, “Man, it’s nothing that you’re not doing. Just focus on the little stuff.” Shanahan pointed out that everyone sees the highlight-reel touchdowns, like that great post route he ran. But the real key to Watkins getting on the field? His “toughness in the run game.”
Think about it, with a “big body” like Stribling gone and Demarcus Robinson going down, someone had to step up and block on all those tosses and against defensive ends. That’s not a glamorous job, especially for a “smaller body,” but the team needed it. And Watkins became “that guy.” He also started helping out on special teams, showing he understood there’s way more to being an NFL wide receiver than just catching passes. The proof is in the pudding: of those 52 snaps against the Raiders, 28 were on running downs. That’s a huge sign of trust from Shanahan, you don’t get that without putting in the work.
This is why Lynch is so hyped. He’s “really proud of the young man” for fighting his way onto the field, earning his spot. It’s paying off big time for both Watkins and the team. He’s “creating a niche” for himself, showing everyone that in this league, nothing is given. It’s all earned, and Watkins has absolutely earned his shot.
What’s next for Jordan Watkins? With this kind of growth and the trust he’s built with the coaching staff, the sky’s the limit for how much more he can contribute. He’s showing real-time progress and responding to coaching, so expect him to keep pushing boundaries and making an impact.
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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