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Kendrick Bourne leaves 49ers without a deal, visits Commanders

Originally posted on 49ers Webzone | By David Bonilla | Last updated Sep 2, 2025 10:24 AM ET

Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne worked out for the San Francisco 49ers on Monday but left the Bay Area without signing a contract. The timing was notable, as his return to the team that initially signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2017 coincided with Jauan Jennings' return to practice.

Jennings had been sidelined with a calf injury, an absence many linked to his frustration over his current contract. The wideout is entering the final season of the two-year deal he signed in 2024 and is pushing for a new agreement. With the 49ers already committing big money to Brandon Aiyuk last year, the front office appears reluctant to hand out another lucrative extension to a wide receiver.

Bourne, who spent his first four NFL seasons with San Francisco before joining the New England Patriots in 2021, already had another visit scheduled. After leaving the 49ers facility, he traveled to the East Coast to meet with the Washington Commanders.

Bourne is in town now. That he already visited the 49ers and still flew cross-country *seems* like a positive sign for the Commanders. We will see. https://t.co/RuW8qJfXQH— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) September 2, 2025

For Week 1, Jennings and second-year receiver Ricky Pearsall are projected starters when the 49ers open the 2025 NFL season on the road against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Injuries have tested San Francisco's depth at wideout, but Jennings' return offers a crucial boost heading into the division matchup.

Bourne's visit may have been a calculated move by the 49ers, signaling to Jennings the importance of getting back on the field. Whether the team maintains interest in a reunion with Bourne remains to be seen.

This article first appeared on 49ers Webzone and was syndicated with permission.

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