SANTA CLARA, Calif. — While receiver Jauan Jennings deals with a left shoulder injury, the San Francisco 49ers are reuniting with Kendrick Bourne.
The Niners and Bourne agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $5 million Monday morning, according to Bourne’s agent, Henry Organ. The deal brings Bourne back to the place he started his NFL career as an undrafted free agent out of Eastern Washington in 2017.
Later on Monday, coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters that TE George Kittle is expected to be sidelined multiple weeks with a hamstring injury suffered in the first half of the team’s Week 1 win against the Seattle Seahawks.
Shanahan also said QB Brock Purdy suffered a left shoulder and toe injury on Sunday, making him uncertain for the Week 2 matchup in New Orleans. Shanahan said the team will see how the practice week goes before deciding on Purdy’s availability.
After the New England Patriots released Bourne on Aug. 27, the Niners were immediately interested in bringing Bourne back because of their many moving parts at receiver. While that briefly settled, Sunday’s injury to Jennings paired with Brandon Aiyuk’s knee injury, rookie Jordan Watkins’ ankle sprain and Demarcus Robinson’s suspension has left San Francisco wanting for help with experience in its system.
Shanahan confirmed after Sunday’s 17-13 win against the Seattle Seahawks that the Niners still hoped to add Bourne.
“I know he hasn’t signed with anyone, so I know it’s a possibility we can get him,” Shanahan said. “I know we’re still trying. Hopefully that can work out.”
It did work out after Bourne, who didn’t practice for the Patriots after Aug. 1 because his legs got rolled up on an intrasquad scrimmage. Bourne visited San Francisco last week but left without signing a deal and visited the Washington Commanders the next day. He didn’t sign there, either, instead choosing to keep his options open through Week 1.
Bourne is entering his ninth NFL season, splitting his previous eight evenly between the Niners and Patriots. For his career, Bourne has 292 receptions for 3,714 yards and 22 touchdowns.
The 49ers will need to make a corresponding roster move to make Bourne’s signing official. Ricky Pearsall and Jennings were the only Niners receivers with any catches Sunday as Russell Gage Jr., Skyy Moore and Marquez Valdes-Scantling also played.
