The defending NFC champion 49ers have a loaded roster: Players such as cornerback Richard Sherman and left tackle Trent Williams will be Hall of Fame candidates, and Williams is one of 15 first-round picks the team employs.
But some prominent members of the organization have espoused a seemingly bizarre view. They think an undrafted backup tight end with 22 career receptions in two-plus seasons who played his college ball in the Pioneer League … is one of their best players.
Last year, when the 49ers were 9-1, head coach Kyle Shanahan termed Ross Dwelley “as good of a football player as we’ve got going right now.”
Whatever. Coach-speak, right? But it’s also teammate-talk. This week, linebacker Fred Warner said Dwelley has “become one of the best players on our football team.”
Why is Dwelley, 25, who played at the University of San Diego, held in such esteem? It’s because of the way he has subbed for players who are among the NFL’s best at their position.
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Last year, when All-Pro tight end George Kittle missed two games with a leg injury, Dwelley became the only 49er to have two touchdown catches in a game in a 36-26 win over the Cardinals. A third scoring grab was negated by a penalty.
And when Pro Bowl fullback Kyle Juszczyk missed four games with a knee injury, Dwelley assumed his duties despite having no experience at the position. The result: The league’s second-ranked rushing offense had 142.3 rushing yards per game without Juszczyk, less than 2 yards below its season average.
“I think when people say someone’s a great football player, they mean that nothing’s too big for him,” Shanahan said when asked about Dwelley. “Whatever you ask him to do, he can handle that assignment. It doesn’t matter whether it’s fourth down with no time on the clock. If it’s the first play of the game. The guy is just not going to flinch.”
Dwelley is the same steely-eyed guy in 2020. On Sunday, in a 36-9 rout of the Giants, Kittle didn’t play and Pro Bowl tight end Jordan Reed exited in the second quarter with a knee injury.
Two plays after Reed left, Dwelley had a 20-yard reception from Nick Mullens. Two plays later, Dwelley had a 14-yard reception. And two plays later, running back Jerick McKinnon had a 10-yard touchdown run to give the 49ers a 13-6 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Dwelley also plays on special teams. And he has opened his career by playing 30 straight games without appearing on the injury report. On Sunday, Mullens called him “the most consistent guy in the building.” On Friday, Mullens was asked why the team’s third-string tight end is mentioned among its best players.
“It’s how you take advantage of every opportunity you get when that time comes and you do it to the best of your ability,” Mullens said. “And then you maximize your ability. And that’s what Ross does a great job of. Every time that you think he’s not going to do something crazy special, he does it. … And that’s what makes him one of the best just overall football players on our team.”
The 49ers obviously value Dwelley, who says such praise from his teammates “means the world” to him. But they were also looking to upgrade at No. 2 tight end when they signed Reed, a 30-year-old who’s more accomplished and dynamic than Dwelley, before training camp.
Reed has had four 50-catch seasons. Dwelley has 159 career receiving yards and averages 7.2 yards per catch.
Dwelley was asked this week about his feelings when the 49ers added Reed.
“I kind of was like, ‘That’s cool. We’re getting Jordan Reed. Obviously, he can help us,’” Dwelley said. “That was my initial feeling. But your inner competitor is like, ‘Let’s go.’ I just want to compete. That’s nothing against any teammates. It’s just how you have to be to be in this league. You have to have that inner drive.”
Dwelley will have his former role as the No. 2 behind Kittle for the foreseeable future. Reed is expected to miss six to eight weeks, perhaps giving Dwelley more opportunities to do what he does best: take advantage of his opportunities.
The theme was established last year when Kittle couldn’t finish a 28-25 win at Arizona because of a knee injury. Dwelley entered and had a game-sealing 11-yard catch on a 3rd-and-9 pass from Jimmy Garoppolo that allowed the 49ers to run out the clock.
“I take a lot of pride in that, taking advantage of those big opportunities,” Dwelley said. “Obviously, I just want to put the best stuff I can on tape and do the best I can. Wherever the teams needs me, whatever they need me to do.”
Eric Branch covers the 49ers for The San Francisco Chronicle. Email: ebranch@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Eric_Branch
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A backup’s among their best? 49ers hold tight end Ross Dwelley in high esteem - San Francisco Chronicle
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