MIAMI — You’d be forgiven for forgetting about Dante Pettis. But, more likely, you’re probably wondering what happened to the once-promising second-round pick that the 49ers traded up to select.

The second-year receiver hasn’t played a snap — on offense or special teams — since Week 12, despite being active for each game. While coach Kyle Shanahan refused to reveal any plans this week, it’s likely that will continue to be the case when the 49ers meet the Chiefs in the Super Bowl on Sunday.

“I know it hasn’t gone exactly how he — or us — wanted it to,” Shanahan said in his final meeting with the media before Sunday. “But I believe in Dante. He’s helped us this year and I believe he’ll help us more next year.”

While it’s not hard to read between those lines, Shanahan has been more blunt in expressing his frustration with Pettis’ slow development in the past.

After a couple critical drops in the 49ers’ home loss to the Seahawks, Shanahan said his leash was getting shorter and shorter.

“He’s had his opportunities,” he said then. “The more he doesn’t take advantage of his opportunities, the less opportunities he gets.”

If nothing else, he’s a man of his word. Pettis saw the field on two plays the following week. Just nine plays the week after that.

Since? Not once. He’s been leapfrogged on the depth chart by rookie Deebo Samuel and third-year receiver Kendrick Bourne, who went undrafted out of Eastern Washington.

“It’s been kind of wild. Lots of ups and downs,” Pettis said this week, reflecting on his first two seasons in the league. His rookie season ended in promising fashion, totaling 371 yards in his final six games.

So, what is keeping Pettis off the field now? During his record-breaking career at Washington, he was one of the most graceful, most elegant route runners and punt returners in the country.

It’s partly that which Pettis is now trying to overcome. He and his coaches both say his primary problem is trying to do too much against polished NFL cornerbacks. He was able to rely on his athleticism in college. In the NFL, everyone is at his level.

“It’s being quicker and more precise with my cuts, instead of trying to be so extravagant or overdo things,” Pettis said. “Sometimes you have leverage, just take it. Don’t try to kill him all the time. Win, get the same separation, get there more efficiently.”

Pettis is surrounded by talented receiving minds to pick. When the 49ers acquired Emmanuel Sanders at midseason, Pettis was particularly piqued. Coming out of college, Sanders was a player to whom Pettis was often compared.

“When he came over here, I was like, ‘Perfect, I get to learn some more,’” Pettis said. “I want to get in his mind. How he reacts. I love the way he runs routes.”

But, as Pettis says, Sanders “has a lot going on.” The person he speaks the most with is Miles Austin, who spent 10 successful years as a receiver in the league and is now in his first season as an offensive quality control coach with the 49ers.

The problem, though, is that Austin and Pettis are fundamentally different receivers.

“So there’s a lot of times where he’ll tell me he would’ve done it this way. OK, well I’m not like that. That’s not my game,” Pettis said. “It’s tough because there’s definitely times where I’m like dang, I should’ve done this right here and I didn’t. I did it the way he was telling me to do it.”

But Pettis and Austin have spent copious amounts of time in the film room. Pettis is still trying to learn when to set up defenders and take it slow or when to go full-speed on his routes.

Pettis’ struggles to latch on remind Sanders of his entrance to the NFL. He only started one game his first two seasons in Pittsburgh.

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49ers pay Santa Clara $5.5 million in owed rent for Levi’s Stadium “Dante, he’s just young,” Sanders said. “When I came into the league, my role was fourth or fifth receiver, too. … I think with a guy like Dante, just give him more time and he’s going to step onto the scene and he’s gonna go crazy like he did at Washington.”

It’s a conundrum: if Sanders weren’t here, Pettis would probably be seeing the field more. His dropoff in snaps coincides with Sanders’ arrival, and receivers coach Wes Welker confirmed as much. But without Sanders, the 49ers may not be playing for a Super Bowl.

Ultimately, it’s bittersweet for Pettis. He has a chance at a ring, but one he hasn’t been able to contribute much to getting.

“Everybody wants to play,” Pettis said. “Everyone wants to contribute to a Super Bowl. Everybody wants to be on the field, make a big catch or whatever. … But we’re in the Super Bowl. We’ve got a chance to get a ring. That’s what everybody wants to do.”