Bourne began his NFL career with the 49ers, spending his first four seasons under Kyle Shanahan after joining the team as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He later signed with the New England Patriots in 2021, but was released on Wednesday, making him free to sign with any team.
Bourne's familiarity with Shanahan's offensive system could be valuable with Week 1 just around the corner, especially given the 49ers' depleted receiving corps.
Brandon Aiyuk continues to recover from ACL and MCL injuries, while Jauan Jennings is battling a calf issue and trying to get a new contract from the team. Second-year wideout Jacob Cowing landed on the injured reserve list after suffering a torn hamstring, rookie Jordan Watkins is dealing with a high-ankle sprain, and the NFL suspended Demarcus Robinson for the first three games of the season.
In response, the 49ers have already signed Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the practice squad and acquired Skyy Moore in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs.
John Lynch weighs in
General manager John Lynch addressed the team's interest in Bourne during a radio appearance on Thursday morning.
"Anytime a really good football player, who we had ties to—Kendrick started his career here—becomes available, there's obviously going to be discussions," Lynch said. "We're trying to evaluate the pertinent information. Kendrick has been hurt in training camp there, so trying to see exactly where he's at and having conversations.
"But we'll let that play out. We'll continue to look into it. Any player who can help us improve our roster, we'll look into, and that's where that is."
Bourne's 2024 season was his least productive since his rookie campaign. He recorded 28 receptions for 305 yards and one touchdown in 12 games, marking his lowest yardage total since 2017. The 30-year-old has missed 14 games over the past two seasons, raising questions about his durability but still offering potential as a reliable depth option.
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers Training Camp Day 2: Who stood out in Monday's practice?
The San Francisco 49ers' second day of training camp provided plenty of reasons for optimism, with the defense making several splash plays and a handful of offensive players continuing to generate buzz. The 49ers' official practice report noted interceptions from safety... -
49ers have five likely future Hall of Famers, says ESPN's Barnwell
The San Francisco 49ers boast one of the NFL's most talented rosters. But how many of those players are on a Hall of Fame trajectory? That's the question ESPN's Bill Barnwell explored for every NFL team, identifying which players have the strongest cases to one day earn... -
49ers' Fred Warner shares players' reaction to Kyle Shanahan addressing the team
Although San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan hasn't been able to take on his full-time duties at the start of training camp, he has remained a visible presence around the facility. As he continues recovering from the injuries he suffered in a July 14 car accident,... -
49ers' Trent Williams climbs in NFL Top 100 Players of 2026 rankings
A fourth San Francisco 49ers player has earned a spot on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026 list. Twelve-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Trent Williams came in at No. 40, climbing five spots from his No. 45 ranking in 2025. No. 40 on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026…@49ers OT...