Quinton Patton doing footwork while preparing for 49ers training camp

The San Francisco 49ers veterans report to training camp on Friday, at which point offseason training turns into formal training camp practices. In the meantime, players are finishing up their preparations for the coming season.

Earlier this week, Quinton Patton posted a few videos to Instagram showing various footwork drills. Patton is entering a critical season for his career prospects. He is still behind Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith, but he has reached a point where the 49ers will be looking for a bigger return on the investment. If he struggles this year, all bets are off for his future with the 49ers.

Without knowing specific details about the passing offense, it is hard to tell what kind of opportunities will exist. But if he proves himself capable, opportunities will come with that. Even if Smith and Boldin are the focus of the passing game, Kap will be looking for other options when those two and potentially Vernon Davis are covered. Patton can earn the third receiver spot, particularly if Bruce Ellington is in more of a flex type position mixed and matched here and there. If Patton can claim the third receiver role over Jerome Simpson, opportunities will be there.

@footwork_king

A video posted by Quinton Patton (@pattonboy_11) on Jul 21, 2015 at 1:47pm PDT

Day 2 @footwork_king

A video posted by Quinton Patton (@pattonboy_11) on Jul 22, 2015 at 1:47pm PDT

@footwork_king

A video posted by Quinton Patton (@pattonboy_11) on Jul 23, 2015 at 3:45pm PDT