Kendrick Bourne Has Vanished… Along with a Potential $500K Bonus ?

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Kendrick Bourne was the lone bright spot in the 49ers’ passing attack early in the season, but now he’s disappeared in plain sight. He sits just 18 receiving yards away from hitting the 500-yard mark that triggers a $500,000 bonus (and 100 more for another $250K), yet with only four games left, that money is slipping through his fingers. Bourne exploded for an average of 142 yards in Weeks 5 and 6 when George Kittle, Jauan Jennings, and Ricky Pearsall were sidelined, but ever since Brock Purdy returned, he’s been pushed to the back burner. Targets are flowing to Jennings, Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey, leaving Bourne as little more than an afterthought. As The Athletic’s Matt Barrows noted, “Bourne knows the Shanahan system inside out, but he’s getting lost in a suddenly crowded offense.” That disappearance isn’t just costing him snaps — it could cost him half a million dollars.

Bourne signed a three-year, $15 million deal in 2024 loaded with incentives: $500K at 500 yards, another $250K at 600. Early on, he capitalized on injuries and his prior chemistry with Mac Jones from their New England days. Once Purdy was healthy, everything changed. In the recent win over Cleveland, Bourne was targeted exactly once. Purdy still insists, “Kendrick is a huge piece for us — we need him ready to go at any moment.” Reality, however, is harsher: Jennings and the returning Pearsall are clearly WR1 and WR2, and Bourne, at age 30, is fighting for scraps.

Kyle Shanahan’s offense has always spreads the ball, but Bourne’s situation highlights how unforgiving the NFL can be. The 49ers still lead the NFC in yards per game, yet depth is being tested — especially with Brandon Aiyuk likely departing next offseason. Bourne was a playoff X-factor in 2023, but he’s now down to roughly 20 percent of offensive snaps. An anonymous team source said, “Kendrick is grinding every day in practice, but he needs a chance to show it.” Missing the incentive isn’t just a financial hit; it’s a blow to his leverage and motivation.

The final four games — Rams, Cardinals, Seahawks, Lions — are Bourne’s last shot. Eighteen yards sounds easy, but with Pearsall regaining explosion and McCaffrey dominating the red zone, touches aren’t guaranteed. Bourne said on his own podcast earlier this year, “I know what I bring, but this league makes you prove it every single week.” Half a million dollars hanging in the balance is painful motivation.

All eyes are on Bourne now: Will he reappear when the 49ers need depth most? Or will the vanishing act become permanent — along with the bonus money? Shanahan said this week, “We need everybody, and that includes Kendrick. He can flip a game at any second.” With the playoffs on the line and the 49ers sitting at 9-4, Bourne has one last window. Miss it, and 2025 might be his final chapter in the Bay — not just for the money, but for the simple fact that the NFL never waits for ghosts.