49ers’ Junior Bergen catching on as potential return specialist

SANTA CLARA The possibilities swirl around Junior Bergen like gunners on kick coverage but he has only one thing on his mind Catch the ball You don t have a play if you don t catch the ball Bergen reported Tuesday after the ers finished practice a day before departing for Las Vegas and a joint practice session with the Raiders Sounds simplistic but as a rookie seventh-round draft pick out of Montana taking time to figure out the numbers encounter that produces a -man roster would only distract Bergen from working on his speciality while also learning a new offense as a wide receiver Exhibition games give young players a chance to play particular actual football but even more so for a return specialist Bergen has dodged large silver balls rolled in his direction as he settles under a punt from either Thomas Morstead or the JUGS machine He s fielded straight forward punts Directional punts Banana balls which are struck with a sideways spin so they curve in the air Deep punts Shallow punts He s caught just about all of them with only a juggle here or there The only time he gets a chance to run after the catch is against an opponent In the Big Sky Conference Bergen has caught punts in the worst manageable conditions so Santa Clara is a snap We re kicking him selected different balls that he s going to get during the season whether it s the banana ball or whether it s the directional aim right or pulls left special teams coach Brant Boyer mentioned The only time he gets to run is against an opponent and against Denver Bergen did not disappoint He returned the only punt he fielded for yards That s just two yards shy of a -yarder by Jacob Cowing that stood as the ers longest return in regular season games in The ers difficulties in that area are well documented Their last punt return for a touchdown was Sept by Ted Ginn Jr Against Seattle Opponents have punted times on the ers to different return specialists in games regular and postseason games since Ginn s -yard result I ve heard it a couple of times Bergen disclosed Hopefully we can change that this year That s the goal I don t think we re focused on the past too much just be in the present and try and make plays Bergen was a -foot- -pound Big Sky playmaking legend in Missoula where he returned eight punts for touchdowns to set an NCAA Football Championship Subdivision record and averaged yards per return The ers used their final pick of the draft on Bergen No overall While he s no lock to stick urgent a couple of big ones in preseason games against the Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers on Aug would make it tough to keep him from seizing the role for the Sept regular season opener against Seattle Rookie wide receiver return specialist Junior Bergen fields questions from reporters at the ers' facility Tuesday Shae Hammond Bay Area News Group Bergen got a taste of it against Denver He also returned two kickoffs for yards Bergen mentioned he s still adjusting to the NFL rules where coverage units can t converge until the returner catches the ball and had one receiving target without a catch He played snaps on offense and five on special teams I ve dreamt of that moment for quite specific time Bergen reported I m so thankful God fortunate me to play the competition I love and come out of it healthy Unfortunately we didn t get a win but it s nice to experience all that Bergen is an anomaly in that he s not extraordinarily fast clocking on his Pro Day But he s slippery and elusive and his college coach Bobby Houck mentioned he s got a natural feel in the return tournament I would call it point guard ability Houck explained last May He just instinctively knows where everybody is Bergen keeps things as uncomplicated as feasible Just try to make the first guy miss is the biggest thing Bergen reported If you make the first guy miss you ve got a play there My teammates blocked it up really well Cowing who returned to practice Monday for the first time since the first day of training camp fielded several punts but did not participate in association sessions after recovering from a hamstring strain He averaged yards on returns as a rookie Cowing or Bergen are the bulk likely punt return specialists for Week Both are wide receivers and while Shanahan made no bones about Bergen being drafted to return punts and kickoffs he s liked what he s seen of Bergen at receiver With Jauan Jennings out with a calf injury Brandon Aiyuk rehabbing a torn ACL and rookie Jordan Watkins out with a high ankle sprain Bergen s had his share of snaps at receiver and made his share of plays Bergen was a multi-purpose performer at Montana with career yards rushing and four touchdowns and yards receiving and touchdowns He s the kind of gadget competitor Shanahan could put to use if he makes the roster Related Articles ers safety shuffle bumps rookie Marques Sigle into starting spotlight Eight players who ers should put in bubble wrap until season opener Kurtenbach The ers are short on time and shorter on bodies ers lose Jordan Watkins to ankle sprain while Aiyuk Robinson face delayed debuts ers guard Dominick Puni isn t resting on his rookie laurels He s gotten a lot more opportunities going into this camp being down more guys than we expected Shanahan mentioned I think he s shown he s ready for it He s been able to catch the ball he s learned the playbook We ve been able to put him in there and use him at receiver and that definitely helps his chances Even if Bergen doesn t make the initial he could be placed on the practice squad and be eligible to be one of the two players allowed to be elevated on championship day All the returners are learning every day and improving every day Boyer commented It s going to be thought-provoking to see how this all shakes out