A New Preseason Hero is Born in San Francisco

The preseason used to be boring. You skimmed the paper for anything notable, hoped no one got hurt, and went on with your day. With the schedule shortened, teams now use August to “get in rhythm” for September. San Francisco has no interest in entering the season with rust.

Naturally, when the starters head to the bench, the back end of the roster gets its chance to shine and make a case to stick. This year at Levi’s, the name stirring up the Faithful is a true 49ers rookie: Junior Bergen (WR/returner, pick 252).

49ERS ROOKIE IS PUTTING ON A SHOW 🔥
TD grabs on back-to-back drives for the @49ers!

Junior Bergen Makes a Name for Himself as a Preseason Hero

Taking the Long Way

Overlooked out of high school, Bergen took the long road: doing the little things on special teams, sharpening return skills and route running after hours. The first jolt arrived in the opener against the Broncos: a 28-yard punt return plus two kickoff returns for a combined 40 yards—a sign the 49ers may have found the return spark they’ve been seeking.

Showing Out on Monday Night

A week later, he was still just a “whisper” on 53-man projections—until Bergen stole the stage.

With the second and third units on the field, he synced up with the backup quarterback. In a 14–14 game, Bergen snagged a 12-yard out on his first series. Next drive: a 23-yard first-down conversion on a scramble drill, then a tough 4-yard catch through contact. To cap the march, he locked the corner on a back-shoulder throw for his first TD.

The defense quickly got the ball back. Next snap: Bergen climbed the ladder at the back line, mossing the DB for his second touchdown. Final line: 5 catches on 6 targets, 73 yards, 2 TDs—the kind of August tape that forces a meeting-room conversation.

Inside the building, veterans praised the way he practices—on time, on detail, unmoved by the depth chart. If the preseason is a doorway, Bergen is wedging his foot in it.