A.J. Jenkins has improved in the eyes of the 49ers coaching staff, offensive coordinator Greg Roman in particular.
Spectacular catches and refined route-running are some of the things the former first-round pick has demonstrated this offseason.
Jenkins, however, fumbled his only catch in the preseason opener and has dropped at least one pass in the team's last two training camp practices.
Roman said it wasn't just the second-year wideout making mistakes.
"I think everybody has those plays," San Francisco's play-caller said on Sunday. "You've got to bounce back from them. You've got to learn from them and I think A.J. does a lot of really good things. He's just got to continue to work and get better day by day."
Roman sees his young receiver competing and working hard on a daily basis, but did note that he could perform better.
"He had a couple of plays the other night that he'd like to have back, but he had some good plays," Roman said before noting that one preseason game is not everything to the 49ers coaching staff.
"We're of the ilk that you come in after a game, you learn from it, you learn from it, you move on, you get better and that's what we're doing."
Jenkins continues to flash big-play ability in camp. He caught a 70-yard touchdown pass from Colt McCoy, the longest throw and catch of camp. Jenkins also made a leaping finger-tip catch at Saturday's 49ers "Fan Fest" practice. Later in the day, however, the wide receiver dropped a catchable pass that deflected off his hands and was intercepted by safety Darcel McBath.
"He can make some spectacular catches," Roman said of Jenkins' positive attributes. "He's got big, strong hands. He's getting better with his route-running. He's improving really in everything he does."
Roman said Jenkins would get "a healthy amount of reps" in the upcoming preseason games.
The 49ers offensive coordinator wants to see Jenkins continue what he's done all offseason: Work.
"It's just a matter of down in and down out consistency," Roman said. "I think we all need to strive to be better day in and day out, down in and down out."
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