A.J. Jenkins tells 49ers fans “It is just one preseason game” after fumble

Last year, 49ers rookie receiver A.J. Jenkins was perhaps the NFL’s most disappointing first-round draft pick, failing to catch a single pass all season. All. Season. That is right, sixteen games, zero catches.

This year, Jenkins started the preseason by catching one pass, and promptly fumbling directly afterwards. Not exactly a good sign from a player who let the 49ers scouts look mighty foolish last season in an abysmal rookie year.

So is Jenkins worried that he’s running out of opportunities?

Quite the opposite, Jenkins told 49ers fans and the media that it is just one preseason game and that there is no reason to panic as it will all come together by Week One.

“Hopefully, I’ve made some strides,” Jenkins said, via CSNBayArea.com. “It’s the first preseason game. We have three more games left. It’s a long year. No need to panic and get all discouraged. Just got to keep watching film.”

This would be more acceptable if it was coming out of the mouth of Vernon Davis or another 49ers veteran, but Jenkins has never proved himself on an NFL football field whether it be regular season or whether it be the “preseason” that Jenkins doesn’t appear to take seriously. Niners fans shouldn’t be so convinced that Jenkins will turn things around because they have no reason to.

Perhaps if Jenkins took the preseason as seriously as a seventh round draft pick he would be able to catch, and hold onto, the ball much more often when it is thrown his way. After all the Niners do need help at wide receiver. They need Jenkins to improve and fast.