Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne. Eric Canha-Imagn Images

49ers and Vikings linked to veteran wide receiver

By Jordan Sigler | Last updated Aug 27, 2025 1:00 PM ET

The San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings have been named teams to watch in the race to sign a veteran wide receiver released by the New England Patriots on Wednesday.

Per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the Patriots released Kendrick Bourne following a training camp in which he was sidelined with a foot injury.

Mike Garafolo believes the 49ers and Minnesota Vikings are the top options for Bourne.

"The 49ers seem like a logical landing spot but the Vikings had interest and a few other teams are likely to show interest now that Kendrick Bourne is a free agent," Garafolo posted on X. "One to watch."

The #49ers seem like a logical landing spot but the #Vikings had interest and a few other teams are likely to show interest now that Kendrick Bourne is a free agent. One to watch. https://t.co/nbg77kZcEA
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 27, 2025

The 49ers and Vikings have dealt with several injuries to receivers during training camp this summer. In addition, Minnesota receiver Jordan Addison and San Francisco receiver Demarcus Robinson will miss the first three games of the regular season due to suspension.

Bourne has obvious connections to the 49ers and head coach Kyle Shanahan. San Francisco signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He spent four seasons with the 49ers before he joined the Patriots in 2021.

Bourne has appeared in 111 games and started 34 games during his first eight years in the league. The 30-year-old has recorded 292 receptions for 3,714 yards and 22 touchdowns.

Bourne would be an ideal addition for the 49ers or Vikings to patch depth issues early in the season. The Pittsburgh Steelers are another team to watch, as they have notable depth issues coming out of the preseason.

Jordan Sigler

Jordan Sigler is a sports writer with a decade of experience as a journalist, including his time as a breaking news/day cops reporter for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. His sports coverage across the NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL, and college football world has also been featured at ChiCitySports, Gridiron Heroics, Pro Football Network, and Athlon Sports. Based in Austin, Texas, Jordan graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism from Texas Tech University in 2014

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