Golden Nuggets: Are our wide receivers good enough

Other than the addition of Deebo Samuels, our wide receiver position is looking like the same unremarkable position group we had last season. No one seems sure why Kyle Shanahan chose to bench Dante Pettis in game one, Marquise Goodwin once again underperformed and we are once again turning to mediocre players like Richie James and Kendrick Bourne. Anyone else feeling a major case of deja vu?

No, I am not impressed that Bourne led the team with 487 yards receiving last season. That is more an embarrassment than anything to be proud of. While the guy has his share of highlights, he is mainly inconsistent, drops passes at important moments, and really is not the type of player you want to have to depend on when the game is on the line.

I really thought Dante Pettis would be raising eyebrows by the end of training camp but the only eyebrows he has raised is those that are baffled by his inability to raise his game to the next level. Perhaps Shanahan needs to play him and see what happens?

I loved the Jimmy Garoppolo to Marquise Goodwin show in 2017. Goodwin was running good routes and the two seemed to have a special chemistry between them. It would be nice to see that rekindled but I did not see much going on between the two in game one. Goodwin had a couple of very good excuses for his decline last year but it is time to step up and show us that the Goodwin of 2017 was not a fluke.

I know he was a rookie but I really was anything but impressed by Richie James at the wide receiver position last season. While there were lots of reports during the 2018 training camp about his ability to get separation, he seemed to lack that ability once the season started. While I credit Kyle Shanahan for putting him in a matchup that he was able to exploit in game one and am sure Kyle will be able to do that with James from time to time, I don’t see him as anything other than a role player.

Deebo got more than his share of work in game one and I am only expecting his role to continue to increase. Hopefully he is up to the task because we really need him to step up immediately. If he can step up and Pettis can live up to expectations than we should be productive at the wide receiver position. Add in a healthy Trent Taylor and Jalen Hurd and we might even be adequate at the position but, I am more than a little skeptical at the moment.

Now onto the sizzling hot links:

49ers expect Nick Bosa to play Charean Williams

With Bosa out of practice again, Shanahan reveals his expectation for Sunday status on KNBR Jacob Hutchinson

49ers rookie Deebo Samuel ready to respond from mistakes in NFL debut Jennifer Lee Chan

Jed York optimistic about 49ers, improvements he sees in Youngstown Matt Maiocco

Patrick Willis, John Lynch Announced as Nominees for Hall of Fame Class of 2020 Kelana Martin

5 Key Matchups: 49ers vs. Bengals Matthew Asher

How 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan, Bengals’ Zac Taylor’s paths have crossed Jennifer Lee Chan

49ers injury report: Ankle forces Nick Bosa out of practice again Kyle Madson

13 former 49ers on list of nominees for 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame class Kyle Madson

Grant and Lowell Cohn to announce 49ers road games on Hot Mic Grant Cohn

49ers’ plan to give TE George Kittle a rest? Easier said than done Eric Branch

A Dwight Clark call helped pave the way for Bo Pelini’s football career Eric Branch

A sign 49ers’ Richard Sherman is back: He’s quoting Drake Eric Branch

49ers get taste of Youngstown, expect to benefit from Eastern time zone Matt Maiocco

49ers’ George Kittle: ‘If we clean (mistakes) up, we’re a very dangerous team’ Cam Inman

Rolling Stones show underscores dysfunctional relationship between 49ers, Santa Clara Mike Florio

Behind enemy lines, 49ers vs. Bengals: Five questions with opposing beat writer Cam Inman

Cosell: Accuracy issues prevented 49ers’ Jimmy Garoppolo from throwing for 100 more yards vs. Buccaneers David Bonilla