After being limited to only five games over the past two years, veteran wideout Jordan Matthews is taking a different approach as he looks for a new gig. During a recent podcast appearance, Matthews told ESPN’s Turron Davenport that he’s looking to play tight end for his next team.
The 28-year-old noted that he’s added 30 pounds this offseason. He’s also been working out at the University of Louisville with wide receivers coach Gunter Brewer and assistant tight ends coach Stu Holt.
Standing at 6-foot-3, Matthews already had the height to play tight end. The veteran was listed at 215 pounds in 2020, so that extra 30 pounds of weight should provide him with the necessary bulk for the position. We’ve already seen one former wideout switch to tight end this offseason; Kelvin Benjamin will reportedly try to make the Giants roster at TE. More notably, former quarterback Tim Tebow is attempting a switch to tight end with the Jaguars.
Matthews, a former second-round pick, had at least 800 receiving yards in each of his first three NFL seasons, but he’s struggled to match that production over the past few years. Since 2017, Matthews has hauled in only 49 receptions for 615 yards and three scores. He saw time in the 49ers’ final two games of the 2020 season, appearing on 14 offensive snaps without recording a catch.
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