SANTA CLARA — The first team offense didn’t have a particularly strong performance in the 49ers’ 16-10 win over the New Orleans Saints in preseason, but Jacob Cowing made his presence known.
The rookie wide receiver caught four of his five passes for a team-leading 51 yards, but it was perhaps the 19-yard jet sweep that surprised everyone. Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, who had a front row seat from the sideline, was more than impressed with Cowing’s speed around the corner.
“He was crazy today,” Lenoir told NBC Sports Bay Area. “I’m not going to lie. He’s so fast, man. That jet sweep was crazy. He got the ball and everybody had an angle and he just outran all the angles.”
“I was so shocked because I had never seen him do a jet sweep before. We did one in the walkthrough, but I didn’t actually see it come together because we were jogging.”
Lenoir shared that Cowing has not only sought advice from the veterans in his own position room, but has also taken notes from the defensive linemen who cover him. Lenoir has been a willing resource for the young receiver.
Cowing also impressed Lenoir with the biggest play of the game – a 38-yard pass from Josh Dobbs late in the second quarter. The rookie was closely covered by Saints cornerback Rejzohn Wright but had enough distance to make a clean catch, giving the club the only touchdown of the game.
“I don’t even know how he tracked that,” Lenoir said. “I thought it was going all the way out and then he came down with it. I was like, ‘Oh my God.’ He was unbelievable tonight. He did it today.”
With Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings and fellow rookie Ricky Pearsall, there is plenty of talent on the 49ers’ wide receiver roster, but Cowing could cement his place as the club’s punt returner.
His returning colleague Trent Taylor said how impressed he was with his younger counterpart.
“I think he’s done really well so far,” Taylor told NBC Sports Bay Area. “He played multiple positions today, which is never easy as a rookie because it’s hard to learn just one position as a rookie. I think he’s doing a really good job.”
If Cowing can continue his current development, he could become a key weapon for the 49ers offense. The Arizona product has the speed to stretch the field and force opposing defenses to tread water.
Lenoir believes that defending against the 1.75 meter tall speedster could be problematic.
“I would say he’s one of the most important guards,” Lenoir said. “He’s so fast and so small that it’s hard to really hit him. You have to be very strategic with him. You can’t just line up and open the net for him, he’s too fast for that. He can definitely be a serious weapon.”
Cowing’s next chance to show what he can do comes Friday night when the 49ers travel to Las Vegas to play their final preseason game against the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium, kicking off at 7 p.m. PT.
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