SANTA CLARA — With Jauan Jennings leaving a season-opening win with a shoulder injury, the 49ers have brought back a familiar face in wide receiver Kendrick Bourne.
Bourne was also weighing an offer with the Washington Commanders but on Monday it was learned he had agreed to terms with the 49ers on an incentive-laden one-year contract the day after their 17-13 season-opening win against the Seattle Seahawks.
The acquisition, first reported by Adam Schefter and independently confirmed by this news organization, adds an experienced receiver knowledgeable in coach Kyle Shanahan’s system to a position group that needs it.
The 49ers visit the New Orleans Saints in Week 2.
Jennings, who missed much of training camp with a calf injury and hopes for a contract extension, left the Seattle game with a shoulder injury after 50 snaps and was targeted five times and caught two passes for 15 yards but departed after 50 snaps.
The 49ers are already without Brandon Aiyuk (ACL rehab, inactive), Demarcus Robinson (three-game suspension) and rookie Jordan Watkins (high ankle sprain), leaving the wide receiver room to Ricky Pearsall Jr., Russell Gage Jr., Skyy Moore and Marques Valdez-Scantling, who was a practice squad promotion for the Seattle game.
Also on the practice squad are veteran Robbie Chosen, rookie seventh-round pick Junior Bergen and Malik Turner.
Bourne, 30, made the 49ers as an undrafted free agent out of Eastern Washington. From 2017 through 2020, he caught 137 passes for 1,769 yards, averaging 12.9 yards per catch with 11 touchdowns.
It is not known how long of an absence Jennings faces, but it could affect the $3 million in incentives which were added to his contract prior to his return from injury.
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After signing a three-year contract with New England, Bourne had four productive seasons, with highs of 55 catches and 800 yards in 2021. For his career, Bourne has 292 receptions for 3,714 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Shanahan said after the 49ers’ win over Seattle that bringing back Bourne was a possibility.
Earlier in the day, it was learned the 49ers had signed right tackle Colton McKivitz to an extension. Shanahan speaks to the local media via conference call later this afternoon where he may or may reveal the prognosis of Jennings and tight end George Kittle (hamstring), who left in the first half of the Seattle game.
