New 49ers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling was one of many players to experience Tuesday's NFL roster cutdown day.
After being released by the Seattle Seahawks earlier in the week, Valdes-Scantling revealed he could have reunited with former Packers teammate Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh but decided to sign with San Francisco instead.
"It was between here and Pittsburgh," Valdes-Scantling told reporters on Thursday, via NBC Sports Bay Area & California. "Obviously, I have a good relationship with Aaron Rodgers over there, and he wanted me back over there. So, it was a toss-up, 50/50. I had to weigh my options and see which one I wanted to do, which was going to be better for my career at this point, and I was excited about it."
Valdes-Scantling, 30, inked a deal to join San Francisco's practice squad, but with Brandon Aiyuk (knee) targeting a Week 6 return and Jauan Jennings dealing with a calf injury while seeking a new contract, the journeyman wideout could be in line to play Week 1 as uncertainty looms around the team's top two receivers.
MVS said it wasn't the first time San Francisco and general manager John Lynch reached out to him, noting the 49ers tried a few times to sign him after his rookie contract in Green Bay expired. A few years later, Lynch and the 49ers finally got Valdes-Scantling heading into his eighth season.
Whether he contributes right away or later in the year is yet to be determined with a new offense to learn.
Valdes-Scantling explained the playbook familiarity between 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak and Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak is what tipped the scales toward joining San Francisco.
"Not having to learn a new system," Valdes-Scantling said. "Being able to get onto the field right away, obviously, that's the goal. And so, being able to jump-start that process of learning the system, it betters the chances of you being on the field."
The 49ers travel to Seattle to face Valdes-Scantling's former team in Week 1.
