49ers Rookies Watkins and James Battling Injuries, With Limited Time to Prove Themselves
The San Francisco 49ers invested NFL Draft capital into some offensive weapons last April, but those weapons have been robbed of a chance to prove themselves thus far due to injuries.
Both wide receiver Jordan Watkins and running back Jordan James have been sidelined all season.
San Francisco selected Watkins in Round 4 with the No. 138 overall pick in the 2025 draft, and the Ole Miss product impressed in training camp and even had a big play in the preseason. But he went down with an ankle injury and has not played since.
Watkins is expected to practice this week, but the Niners are most likely going to ease him into things. Even though their wide receiver corps has been decimated by injuries, they still have Kendrick Bourne, Demarcus Robinson, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling even if Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall are unable to go.
Still, the Niners would certainly like to see the rookie get some action this year because a lot of those guys will probably not be back in 2026. Pearsall is the only one who could realistically be with the franchise long-term, so Watkins needs reps if he is going to improve,
Turning to James, the 49ers selected him in Round 5 with the No. 147 overall pick. He looked solid in training camp but broke his pinky finger and has been on the mend since then. General manager John Lynch made comments suggesting the Niners saw him being ahead of the depth chart over second-year pro Isaac Guerendo, so once James is healthy, there is a decent chance he will become the third-string running back.
Sadly, the 49ers do not truly know what they have in James and may not for some time until he is healthy and gets an opportunity. But with both Christian McCaffrey and Brian Robinson ahead of him on the depth chart, it is unclear when that opportunity will come barring an injury.
It is unfortunate that both players have been robbed of a chance to contribute due to injuries. Both are on the mend, though, so we should see them at some point this season as they try to prove the Niners did not waste a pick on them.
Jayden Daniels Takes Responsibility for Late Fumble, Looks to Bounce Back Against Cowboys
Jayden Daniels faced tough questions earlier this season about his lingering knee injury. By Monday night, those concerns were gone — replaced by new scrutiny over a costly late-game turnover. Daniels fumbled in the final minutes against the Chicago Bears, setting up a comeback loss for the Washington Commanders.
This week, he didn’t dodge responsibility. He took ownership of the mistake and shifted the focus toward improvement in Week 7.
“I mean, that’s what a quarterback does,” Daniels said Wednesday when asked about his late fumble, via NFL.com. “But it was on me. So I take accountability.”
Jayden Daniels Reflects on Turnover and Slow Starts
Aside from the turnover, Daniels’ performance against Chicago was his strongest of the year. He threw three touchdown passes, overcoming an early interception, and looked like the player Washington expected when he returned from his knee issue. That’s why both he and the team want to make sure the fumble becomes just a footnote to a solid outing.
“We feel we can put up points,” Daniels said. “But we just got to be better with the details and execution, so we don’t have slow starts.”
Slow starts have been an ongoing problem for the Commanders. They’ve trailed by double digits in the first half of each of their last three games, and have been outscored 36–14 in the opening quarter so far in the 2025 season.
Daniels only played in the most recent game, but he acknowledged that the offense must set the tone early if Washington wants to stay competitive in the NFC.
Commanders Look to Bounce Back Against Cowboys
The Commanders have an opportunity to turn things around in Week 7 against the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas ranks last in yards allowed, passing yards allowed, and third-down defense through six weeks, which could give Washington’s offense the chance to get into rhythm quickly.
Washington also received good news on Wednesday. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin returned to practice after missing time with a quadriceps injury. A return this weekend would give Daniels a significant boost.
However, the team suffered another setback at the same position. ESPN’s senior NFL insider Adam Schefter reported, “Commanders placed WR Noah Brown on injured reserve, sidelining him for a minimum of four games.”
Fans immediately reacted to the news on social media. One fan wrote in the comments, “Hopefully Terry McLaurin can come back this week. They really need him.”
Another added, “Tough break for the Commanders. Noah Brown was just starting to find rhythm in that offense. They’ll miss his physicality and reliability on third downs.”
The Commanders know the margin for error is shrinking. Daniels’ positive showing against Chicago gave them reason for optimism, but cleaning up execution and avoiding early deficits will be critical if they want to stay in the playoff race.
“We understand it’s a roller coaster of a season so far,” tight end Zach Ertz said, via The Associated Press. “We’ve got to be more consistent as a team — offense, defense, special teams.”
The Commanders face the Cowboys on Sunday, October 19, at 4:25 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The game will air on FOX.
