The 49ers are only a few days into training camp, but the roster battles are already starting to tilt in a few unexpected directions. Injuries have opened the door in more than one spot, and that has turned a handful of fringe names into players worth watching closely.
At receiver, Kirk was supposed to be in the mix for a starting job, but a groin injury has slowed him down. That could cost him valuable reps, and the timing is rough for a player who has already been sliding over the past two seasons as injuries begin to pile up.
Mike Evans and Ricky Pearsall are already clearly ahead of him, while rookie De’Zhaun Stribling seems to be moving past him as well. Second-year wideout Jordan Watkins could end up thriving in a similar role to Kirk, which would only make Kirk more expendable.
If Demarcus Robinson proves to be the steadier option, the 49ers could even release Kirk after just signing him.
There’s a similar kind of pressure building on the offensive line. Connor Colby is currently handling the starting left guard spot, with veteran Robert Jones rotating in.
But putting a fourth-round rookie straight into the lineup is a big ask, especially for Willis, who is making the move from guard to tackle. Still, by the end of camp, Willis will have had more time to settle in and should get a real shot to show what he can do.
The picture could look very different once those reps start stacking up.
In the defensive trenches, Gracen Halton’s injury has created another opening. He’ll miss time, and that could give rookie UDFA Bryson Eason a chance to make noise.
Even though Eason went multiple rounds later, some draft analysts liked his upside more. If he takes advantage of the opportunity, he could work his way into the roster conversation.
The return job is also wide open enough for a sleeper to sneak in. Jacob Cowing, Junior Bergen and Jordan Watkins are the biggest names in that competition, but none of them locked it down last season.
That leaves the door open for rookie UDFA Will Pauling to get involved. He should not be ignored if he starts piling up work.
And then there’s the swing tackle spot, where Vederien Lowe’s high ankle sprain has already sidelined him for a couple of weeks. Austen Pleasants is first up there for now, but once the rookie gets a real chance, he may be hard to dislodge even after Lowe returns.
In Other News...
49ers Safety Battle May Already Be Tilting In One Direction
Early in 49ers training camp, the safety picture is starting to take shape, and JiAyir Brown has been the clearest beneficiary so far. Brown has handled all the first-team reps at free safety, a sign he may be setting himself apart in the competition, and he also came up with an interception in Mondays session. It is still the first stretch of camp, but those are the kinds of snaps that tend to matter when coaches begin sorting out roles.
The other side of the equation remains less settled, with Malik Mustapha and Marquese Sigle rotating at strong safety while Brown stays planted on the back end. Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris addressed the competition in broad terms, but he did not offer much in the way of clarity on how the starting jobs are lining up. For now, the 49ers at least appear to have one spot leaning in a direction, even if the full answer is still in progress. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Add Defender Who Could Stir A Familiar Debate On Defense
The 49ers have added another piece to their defensive mix, signing former Dolphins pass rusher Quinton Bell to a one-year contract. A seventh-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Bell has bounced from Miami to Atlanta and back into the market as a player whose value has always been tied as much to his athletic profile as to any one fixed position.
What makes Bell interesting in San Francisco is the same thing that has followed him around the league: he has been used mostly as an edge rusher and linebacker, but his background invites bigger questions about how far a coaching staff can stretch a defender who can move around. The 49ers have often leaned into that kind of flexibility, and Bell arrives with the sort of versatility that can open a familiar debate about where exactly he fits best. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Fans Are Livid Over What Stayed Hidden About Shanahan
The latest flare-up around Kyle Shanahan has less to do with the 49ers on-field plans than with how information moves in the NFLs slowest stretches. ESPN insider Adam Schefter said the team kept the incident private during a quiet period on the league calendar, a reminder that not every story breaks on the same timetable as a roster move or injury update.
49ers fans have not been interested in that explanation, and plenty have aimed their frustration at Schefter for the delay. Some have gone further, arguing that he may have held back to protect access to the team, which is exactly the kind of tension that keeps resurfacing whenever a reporters role as a gatekeeper collides with the publics right to know. [Read more 🡒]