Logo

A New Preseason Hero is Born in San Francisco

66 views

Article image

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.

Chiefs Linked To Saints Super Star With 5x Pro Bowl & 2x All-Pro in Blockbuster Trade, Per Source
Kansas City, MO — According to a circulating on X (Twitter), the Kansas City Chiefs have been “linked” to Alvin Kamara—the New Orleans Saints superstar, five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro—as a potential target ahead of the trade deadline. The speculation has heated up as various outlets have also floated Kamara as a logical “fit” should the Chiefs look to add a versatile, late-season playmaker on offense. At 30, Kamara is a rare dual-threat RB who excels as both a runner and receiver. He tied the NFL single-game record with six rushing touchdowns (Christmas Day 2020 vs. the Vikings), and he has recently been recognized as the Saints’ all-time leader in rushing yards. Across his career: 5× Pro Bowl, 2× Second-Team All-Pro, and a skill set tailor-made for Andy Reid’s motion/spacing concepts—screens, angle/choice routes, safe check-downs, and short play-action. Tactically, if a move ever materialized, Kamara would immediately put stress on short-to-intermediate coverages, force defenses to roll a safety, and give Kansas City intriguing two-back looks alongside Isiah Pacheco on 3rd-and-medium and in the red zone. In this hypothetical scenario, Kamara voices a desire for a fresh challenge after hitting so many personal milestones in New Orleans: “I’ve achieved just about everything with the Saints, and I want a new challenge for myself. What could be better than a team competing directly for a Super Bowl? Just thinking about wearing Red and Gold really excites me.” Source: @nflrums X As of now, there has been no official confirmation from the Chiefs or the Saints regarding any talks. Still, Kamara’s résumé and toolbox explain why his name is quickly paired with Kansas City whenever rumors of an offensive upgrade surface. With 5× Pro Bowls, 2× All-Pro honors, and a proven knack for tilting games as both a runner and receiver, even a whisper on social media is enough to make Chiefs Kingdom perk up.