49ers wide receiver Dante Pettis finally taking off in rookie season

SEATTLE - Now that Dante Pettis’ rookie season is finally taking off, he explained why on Sunday, and it’s not just because he’s started the past two games with Marquise Goodwin on personal leave.

“He challenges me all the time, every single play,” Pettis said of head coach Kyle Shanahan after Sunday’s ?43-13 loss. “I know he expects more out of me. We’ve had a few talks about what he expects, so I guess you could say that kind of sparked something.

“I mean, it’s nothing different from what I expect of myself, but when the head coach kind of calls you out, then it’s, ‘OK, I guess I’ve really got to get going.’”

Pettis got in the end zone twice against the Seahawks, and he scored the 49ers’ only touchdown their previous game at Tampa Bay.

He produced 129 yards on five catches Sunday, including scoring strikes of 17 and 75 yards to highlight Nick Mullens’ ?414-yard outburst.

“Those were two good routes and he did a good job when he had the ?opportunities,” Shanahan said.

Added Mullens: “We all know he has the ability to be a very good player for the Niners. People are starting to see that and we’re pumped for him. We are excited to see him developing.”

While Mullens also complemented Pettis’ refined route running and knack for getting open, Pettis returned the compliment by explaining how he got on the same page with Mullens on the 75-yard touchdown in Sunday’s fourth quarter.

Said Pettis: “I saw the safety was down low. Normally I’m supposed to take a sharper angle, and I saw there was no safety in the middle of the field, so I took it higher. I just hoped Nick saw it too. He did, and he hit me in stride with a good throw.”

As for his first touchdown, Pettis said: “I just tried to run to open grass.”

Pettis called it “cool” to perform well in his pseudo-homecoming, having played at the University of Washington. But he was bummed about the loss.

Of his 16 receptions for 314 yards this season, his past two games account for nine catches and 206 yards, as well as three of his four touchdowns. He missed three games with a knee injury and is finally feeling fully healthy - and productive.