San Francisco 49ers Jim Harbaugh on A.J. Jenkins: ‘The best players make the team’
By Bryan Rose
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver A.J. Jenkins hasn’t done much to secure himself a roster spot and with each passing day, his leash continues to grow shorter.
A 2012 first round pick, Jenkins’ struggles were deemed ‘acceptable’ last year thanks to him being a rookie, but he can no longer get by on his lofty draft status.
The 49ers plan to give Jenkins some ‘additional’ roles (think special teams) in the next two weeks in attempts to see what the former Illinois standout can do in an expanded scenario.
It also gives the Niners a chance to see if Jenkins can be effective on their roster at a position other than wide receiver.
If he can’t, he might be in trouble because 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh was extremely elusive and noncommittal when asked about Jenkins recently, suggesting that the ‘best players make the team’.
Per the Sacramento Bee:
"Asked if Jenkins’ draft status or the salary-cap ramifications of cutting him factor in as far as whether he makes the team, Harbaugh said, “Things factor in, but – longstanding — football hasn’t changed since the inception. The best players make the team.”"