A.J. Jenkins has described his first season in the NFL as "humbling".

The San Francisco 49ers wide receiver failed to make a catch during the regular season, having only been active for three games.

The 23-year-old told the 49ers' website: "It really humbled me, honestly. It was my first year not playing. It's kind of different, seeing the game from a different lens, on the sideline watching everything.

"I learned so much from watching Randy Moss and [Michael Crabtree] and Ted [Ginn Jr.] and guys like that. I'm just excited for next year.

"As a rookie, you try to hurry up everything, you try to run too fast. [Crabtree] told me, 'You need to slow down, you've got more time than you think. Just relax, calm down.' That kind of advice will only help me in the long run."

Jenkins has already vowed to spend the off-season working with quarterback Colin Kaepernick to improve his chances of playing a bigger role in 2013.