It isn’t just backup quarterback Mac Jones feeling rejuvenated in the California sunshine this season, as former New England team-mate Kendrick Bourne is suddenly warming to his new role in San Francisco.

As the hometown 49ers continue to suffer injuries to their established stars, Jones — in for phenom Brock Purdy under center practically all season so far — and Bourne — gaining prominence amid a casualty list that, while permanently featuring Brandon Aiyuk, has since seen George Kittle, Skyy Moore, Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing and Jauan Jennings come and go — have established a bond that saw the former Patriots receiver post career figures of 10-for-142 in the surprise Thursday night defeat of divisional rival Los Angeles.

Although he has yet to find the endzone through four games, Bourne seems to have earned himself a spot in the starting lineup — and it’s no secret that he is benefiting from Purdy’s absence as he and Jones rekindle a working relationship already apparent on the opposite side of the country.

“You can tell they have a good relationship,” 49ers offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak confirmed. “They have the history; you can just tell they can talk to each other in the game too. When KB had a drop and Mac can just go to him and just communicate and get them dialled in for the next play, it’s really cool. So, we kind of knew that about him. They had a relationship in the past, so yeah. I’m glad it’s working out for us now.”

Kubiak admits that there is still some way for Bourne — who was signed as a UDFA by San Francisco in 2017 and spent four seasons there — to go to be fully acclimated to the current Niners offense, but accepts that having Jones there will help bring him along.

“He just gets better every week,” the OC noted. “He’s a gamer, you see a guy who’s still learning to grasp our offense schematically, but he gets better every week. He’s such a joy to be around because he’s all in. He’s got a great attitude. He works at it. I think he’s a guy, the more he is out there, the more he is going to help us. And so we’re really excited about what he’s done, what we hope he can keep doing.”

Bourne, while wanting to get fully up to speed, knows that he wasn’t brought in to be WR1 but, equally, is happy to take on the responsibility if required.

“I didn’t come here to get 50 catches a game, none of that,” he insisted. “I came here to play a role, help the younger guys, be a vet. That’s my mindset — be humble and, if there’s a role to be played, that’s how my career has been. I’ve excelled in that and it’s kinda how I got to where I am.”

Hooking up with Jones for a second time in his career is an unexpected bonus, and it’s clear that Bourne has a lot of time for his quarterback.

“Mac is built the right way, he’s mentally the right way, he prepares the right way,” Bourne told journalists of his past and present QB. “I’ve seen it for a while now and I’m proud of him, man. You can tell he’s confident, and it’s just awesome to see him in this space. How I saw him in New England was a different world for him so, to see him now — the peace he has, and the fact that he’s having fun — I think it’s a big part of the game for him.

“[In New England], it was tough, it was pressure. He’s a first-round pick, it falls on him, he’s young but had to figure it out. That’s tough for anybody. But every situation is different, coaching is different and, here, he fits the system. That’s important for a lot of players, and it shows in his game. Shout out to [head coach] Kyle [Shanahan] and [GM] John [Lynch], they make sure everyone’s prepared. Take me… I got my opportunity because Ricky’s down, Jauan’s down. But they got me prepared, and it’s the same thing with Mac.”

Getting that opportunity, Bourne admits, is unfortunate for the players currently sidelined, but he praised the 49ers organisation for investing in veteran players like himself, in order to cover for such circumstances.

“I think it’s huge of Kyle and everyone that we have olders guys, guys with experience in the game like D-Rob [DeMarcus Robinson] and MVS [Marquez Valdes-Scantling]. The depth we have, it shows and it’s important for the NFL because, shoot, guys are banged up now and you don’t know what’s going to happen next week.”