San Francisco 49ers A.J. Jenkins not a lock for final roster?
By Bryan Rose
It seems extremely unlikely that the San Francisco 49ers would cut wide receiver A.J. Jenkins, who they selected with their first pick (#30 overall) in the 2012 NFL Draft.
But if he continues his incredibly sub-par play, it’s something the 49ers will consider, at least according to the Sacramento Bee’s Matt Barrow.
"A.J. Jenkins. Have you read anything about him lately? His potential is undeniable. He’s very quick, very fluid. He gets up to top speed quickly, etc., etc. But he simply hasn’t been one of the six best receivers in training camp. If the 49ers keep him, they will say it’s because they believe Jenkins has a bright future. But that will be a tough sell to the five or six others who are cut and to the remaining players in the locker room, who will privately conclude that Jenkins’ first-round status bought him another year on the roster. One more note about Jenkins: He gives the team almost no value on special teams."
49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Trent Baalke aren’t afraid to derive from conventional wisdom and if they think cutting Jenkins would be the best move for the franchise, I have no doubts they’d do so.
That said – even with his poor play – I can’t imagine they’d give up on him already, especially given their current lack of depth at receiver.