(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
As usual, the San Francisco 49ers are one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl, and while they continue to be led by their usual cadre of established stars, they have a few rookies they feel could become standouts as well.
Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, offensive lineman Dominick Puni and safety Malik Mustapha are three rookies the team has high hopes for.
But in their preseason win over the New Orleans Saints, a less-heralded rookie stood out: wide receiver Jacob Cowing.
Veterans on the team were impressed with the fourth-round pick from the 2024 NFL Draft, according to beat writer Jennifer Lee Chan.
#49ers rookie WR Jacob Cowing impressed veteran teammates with his performance in the club’s second preseason exhibitionhttps://t.co/jcbOIN2rFO
— Jennifer Lee Chan – threads @jenniferleechan (@jenniferleechan) August 19, 2024
Cowing had four catches for 51 yards and provided a couple of highlights.
First was this 38-yard contested reception off a pass from backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs.
38-yard strike @josh_dobbs1 x @jaycowing_#NOvsSF on FOX
NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/bEyhMjUZzU
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) August 19, 2024
He also took a handoff on an end-around and turned it into a 19-yard gain.
#49ers Jacob Cowing has the need for speed pic.twitter.com/YG5Zm8EkAJ
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) August 19, 2024
“He was crazy today,” 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir told NBC Sports Bay Area. “I ain’t going to lie. He’s so fast, man. On that jet sweep, that was crazy. He got the ball and everybody had an angle and he was just outrunning angles.
“I was so shocked because I haven’t seen him on a jet sweep. We did one in the walkthrough but I didn’t really see it come together because we were jogging.”
Cowing played three seasons at the University of Texas at El Paso before transferring to the University of Arizona for his final two seasons of college football, and in 2023, he had 90 receptions for 848 yards and 13 touchdowns.
He ran the 40-yard dash in an excellent 4.38 yards at the NFL Scouting Combine and therefore appears to have the speed to stretch the field in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
It won’t be easy for Cowing to crack the 49ers’ wide receiver rotation, but with Brandon Aiyuk’s ongoing contract saga and Pearsall currently out of action due to an injured shoulder, he has been getting opportunities.
The Niners will have their 2024 preseason finale at the Las Vegas Raiders before they begin to prepare for Week 1 of the regular season against the New York Jets.
The post 49ers Rookie Is Turning Heads In Preseason appeared first on The Cold Wire.