Kendrick Bourne could be the player to watch in Week 5 with Dante Pettis ruled out

The San Francisco 49ers host the Arizona Cardinals this weekend and will be without at least one of their playmakers. Rookie wide receiver Dante Pettis has not been a regular big play threat, but when he gets the ball in his hands, big things happen. He has already been ruled out with a knee injury, and is week-to-week moving forward.

Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin is questionable with a thigh and hamstring issue, and we’ll find out more about his status Wednesday afternoon with the first practice participation report. My guess is Goodwin will be fine, but even if he plays, the team will still be without Pettis.

This opens the door for second year receiver Kendrick Bourne. Through four games, Bourne is on pace for 20 receptions and 260 yards, which are not drastic increases from his 11-game rookie season. However, he already has two touchdowns, putting him on pace for eight this season after not reaching the end zone as a rookie.

It’s a small sample size, but he is establishing himself as a red zone threat in different ways. His first touchdown, against the Detroit Lions, was primarily a play design that worked perfectly.

His second touchdown, against the Los Angeles Chargers, came on a quick slant route in which Bourne got open and C.J. Beathard threw a perfect pass to him. Even though both plays were not 100 percent about Bourne’s work, he executed his role and got the job done. That might earn him more looks moving forward. He had no targets in Week 1, and two total in Weeks 2 and 3. Beathard targeted him three times, which could mean we see more of him in Week 5.

The 49ers PR staff released their unofficial depth chart on Wednesday, and the wide receiver position does offer one particular question. The depth chart included Victor Bolden among the wide receivers. He has been reinstated from his four-game PED suspension, but the team has a one-week exemption to get him back on the roster. If Goodwin can’t play, we might see him this week, but if Goodwin can play, I suspect the team waits until next Monday to release a player. They have enough issues elsewhere on the roster that they probably have to go thin at wide receiver this week.