SANTA CLARA – Kickoff was 30 minutes away from the 49ers’ preseason opener and wide-eyed players, many of whom were making their NFL debuts, huddled up at the 30-yard line for their marching orders.
“Every single person who is in this huddle is meant to be here.
“Don’t blink. Don’t hesitate.
“Go out there and take what’s yours.
“What you want to be your identity, put that on tape.”
Chris Conley said so.
His identity is that of a 31-year-old journeyman, one who’s transitioned from speedy wide receiver and scouting-combine marvel to a do-anything, uplift-your-teammates veteran. His is a settling presence for a franchise replete with incumbents yet seemingly in flux – especially at wide receiver – with only a month until a new season begins.
“There were a lot of young guys in that huddle and on that field (Saturday). Before your first game, there’s a lot of wide eyes,” Conley recalled outside the locker room after Monday’s practice. “You remember being in that situation and being in their shoes.”
Who is filling Brandon Aiyuk’s shoes at split end this training camp amid his contract stalemate? Conley is, to an extent, while Aiyuk boycotts practices.
“He’s been around, been in the building, been chatting here and there. Things are good,” Conley said. “Things are about as good as you can tell. I’m not part of negotiations, and that’s not even what I’m talking about. But checking in with him and how he’s doing, things are good.”
San Francisco 49ers’ Chris Conley (84) and San Francisco 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk (11) dance during practice during Super Bowl bye week at 49ers practice facility in Santa Clara, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Conley is quick to note that coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense demands “multiplicity” from players at all positions, not to mention an attention to detail. “I don’t know if I was doing things he would be doing,” Conley said. “It’s more of being a piece of the puzzle in this offense.”
Aiyuk is a major piece. Conley is an overlooked one.
Conley is in contention for a spot on the season-opening roster, but he could fac another detour to the practice squad. The 49ers surely will reserve roster spots for Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, and first-round draft pick Ricky Pearsall, then it’s Conley jockeying for a spot with return specialist Trent Taylor, rookie speedster Jacob Cowing, so-so sophomore Ronnie Bell, sore-shouldered Danny Gray and newest arrival Robbie Chosen.
Conley’s career veered into the distant land of “practice-squad member” the past two seasons. In 2022, he bounced among those on the Houston Texans, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tennessee Titans. Last year, the 49ers cut him after the preseason, then retained him on their practice squad before a late-season callup. He came through “huge,” Shanahan said, with key catches and special-teams plays up to and through the Super Bowl.
“He stepped up whenever we needed,” Shanahan said Monday. “At wideout, he came in and made big plays, in the Super Bowl and playoffs. In special teams, we didn’t think he’d be a big factor, but like everything he does, he’s such a pro and figures everything out.
“He was our best gunner (in coverage) in the Super Bowl and did a hell of a job at that,” Shanahan added. “Wherever we’ve asked him, he’s done a hell of a job for us.”
San Francisco 49ers’ Chris Conley (84) reaches to catch a pass against the Green Bay Packers in the fourth quarter of their NFC divisional playoff game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Green Bay Packers 24-21. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Such platitudes strike at the core of Conley’s intentions. He’s not looking for them, mind you. He’s at the point of his career where he agrees with this axiom: Talent can get you to the NFL, but it’s how you maximize teammates’ talent that keeps you in the league.
“There’s a lot of selfless guys in that locker room willing to lay it on the line for the team — and the guy next to them,” said Conley, who was a NFL scouting combine phenom in 2015 with a 4.35-yard 40-yard dash, 45-inch vertical, and, ahem, a journalism degree.
Aiyuk was the 49ers’ leading wide receiver the past two seasons. He’s yet to partake in any practices, he’s asked for a trade, and he’s pondering his options. He’s also contractually obligated to play out his rookie deal at a $14.1 million salary, or half the market rate.
Nine years ago, Conley parlayed his four-year term at Georgia into a third-round selection by the Kansas City Chiefs. He played there four seasons, then began a journey afforded only to those uber-talented, team-oriented players. He suited up for the Jacksonville Jaguars (2019-20) and Houston Texans (2021-22) before the aforementioned practice-squad assignments.
“There are so many instances in my career where things went incredibly well, and times where things went incredibly wrong,” Conley said, “and so many lessons were learned along the way on good teams, on terrible teams, in locker rooms where guys were locked and just wanted to see everyone succeed, and in locker rooms were people could care less.
“That wealth of knowledge has made me a better teammate. Those experiences on the field made me a better player. They made me more decisive. I play a lot faster now than when I was younger. The body has obviously aged but the mind is much sharper.”
He’s played 117 games, made 63 starts, caught 220 passes for 2,922 yards and 15 touchdowns. Conley emerged over the final nine games of last season as a special-teams ace for the 49ers – and as a timely receiver.
San Francisco 49ers’ Chris Conley (84) makes a catch in front of Green Bay Packers’ Jonathan Owens (34) in the fourth quarter of their NFC divisional playoff game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Green Bay Packers 24-21. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
His 17-yard catch in the playoff opener got the 49ers to the Packers’ 26-yard line on a game-winning touchdown drive in the final minutes. In the Super Bowl, his only catch was an 18-yarder, third-down conversion on the 49ers’ opening scoring drive, and later in punt coverage, he made tackles at the 11- and 14-yard lines and downed a punt at the 2-yard line.
“It was really rewarding,” Conley recalled. “More than anything, what’s rewarding for me now – I feel like I date myself by saying this – I really get excited when I see people around me succeed.”
Spoken like a sage veteran in a pregame huddle.
Fred Warner usually handles that role. He stayed back in the Bay Area recovering from a minor foot issue. Conley filled those shoes admirably pregame – and afterward. He knows his audience.
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Just read this dissertation on the NFL preseason, which may seem unsightly to some but definitely not him – and not the 49ers he spoke on behalf of after Monday’s practice:
“There’s enough returning people who realize what’s at stake. There are new guys here who are extremely talented, who want to contribute, who are learning the style of play that’s the hallmark of this team and our standards.
“That’s what is beautiful about training camp, beautiful about the preseason. Not only do you get to talk about that and develop that in practice but you get to put that on display. Even if it’s not the showing you want in preseason Game One or Two, you can look at film, be critical of yourself, make adjustments and be the player you want to be.”
