Source: S. F. waives wide receiver Pettis
The 49ers didn’t deal wide receiver Dante Pettis before Tuesday’s trade deadline.
But they did part ways with the 2018 secondround pick — who has no catches and one lost fumble this season — by waiving him, a league source said.
Pettis had been the subject of trade discussions, but it’s likely his lack of production, coupled with a shoulder injury he sustained in Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks, meant the 49ers could get nothing in return.
It wasn’t a surprising end to a disappointing tenure that included public criticism from head coach Kyle Shanahan, who coveted Pettis in the 2018 draft. The 49ers traded up 15 spots to select Pettis at No. 44 overall, but he regressed after showing flashes of promise in his 27reception, 467yard rookie season.
In his last 11 regularseason games with the 49ers, dating to last season, Pettis had two catches for 26 yards on 10 targets and a touchdown while playing 207 snaps. On Sunday, after he’d been inactive for the previous three games, Pettis played three offensive snaps and lost a fumble on his lone kickoff return that led to a 21yard touchdown drive for Seattle. Pettis suffered a shoulder injury on the return that forced him from the game.
The 49ers parted with Pettis despite a shortage of capable wide receivers with Deebo Samuel ( hamstring) sidelined and Richie James ( ankle) limited in Tuesday’s practice. The healthy wideouts on their roster are Brandon Aiyuk, Kendrick Bourne and Trent Taylor.
The 49ers also waived defensive tackle Jullian Taylor, a 2018 seventhround pick who did not play this season after suffering a torn ACL in December.
Running low: The 49ers will face an opponent with a depleted runningbacks corps for the second straight game.
The Packers are unlikely to have their top three running backs available Thursday. Starter Aaron Jones reportedly is expected to miss his third straight game with a calf injury, rookie AJ Dillon is out after testing positive for the coronavirus this week and Jamaal Williams is out because he was determined Tuesday to be a highrisk contact to Dillon.
That leaves Green Bay with Tyler Ervin, who played at San Jose State, and Dexter Williams, who will be elevated from the practice squad. Ervin and Williams have combined for 15 career carries.
Seattle faced a similar situation in Sunday’s win over the 49ers. Its top two running backs, Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde, were out with injures and Travis Homer, its No. 3, played just seven snaps because of a bruised knee. Rookie DeeJay Dallas, who entered the game with two career carries, had 41 yards on 18 carries and scored two touchdowns ( one receiving).
Injury report: Shanahan said running back Tevin Coleman won’t play against Green Bay and will be out “for a little bit of time” after he reinjured his knee against the Seahawks. Coleman came off injured reserve Saturday after missing the previous five games.
In other injury news, linebacker Demetrius FlanniganFowles ( hamstring) did not practice. Tight end Jordan Reed ( knee) and safety Jaquiski Tartt ( groin) were limited.