The 49ers landed in Melbourne with a Week 1 matchup against the Rams on deck, but they’re not exactly arriving with every piece locked in place.
San Francisco is juggling injury concerns on defense, and the left guard spot on the offensive line is still unsettled. The team may lean on internal options first, but if it decides to look outside the building, there are a few veteran names worth keeping close.
Jeff Okudah is one of them. The third cornerback job behind Deommodore Lenoir and Upton Stout is far from settled.
Renardo Green missed the team’s last practice in the States, Jack Jones has been dealing with injury issues, Nate Hobbs is on IR, and the 49ers already moved on from Darrell Luter Jr., who was quickly picked up by the Las Vegas Raiders. Okudah could fit as a depth piece and insurance policy.
He hasn’t logged much action in recent seasons, but he does have two career interceptions, and he spent 2024 under DeMeco Ryans with the Houston Texans.
Leonard Floyd is another obvious possibility. The edge rusher situation is thin enough that San Francisco may not have much choice but to consider help.
Nick Bosa is coming off an injury-shortened season in which he played only three games. Keion White is working back from a gunshot wound suffered in February.
Romello Height is a rookie dealing with his own bumps and bruises. Sam Okuayinonu is not making the trip to Australia.
Floyd, who played for the 49ers in 2024, also has history with defensive coordinator Raheem Morris at multiple stops. A return would not be a surprise, and the need is already there for Week 1.
Then there’s Laken Tomlinson, who could make sense at left guard if San Francisco wants a steadier veteran option. The battle there is likely to be won by rookie Carver Willis, but with Aaron Donald coming out of retirement and possibly playing in Week 1, the 49ers would be wise to add some experience around him.
Tomlinson knows the organization, having played with the Niners for several years, and he is coming off an injury. Even so, he profiles as the kind of veteran presence that could help stabilize the spot.
The 49ers are likely to promote players from the practice squad first, but free agency remains a tool they can use if the injuries keep stacking up. Kyle Shanahan has long favored experienced veterans over untested young players, and these three names fit the kind of short-term help San Francisco may need.
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How the 49ers deploy him is the real question. With so much time lost in camp, there is a natural case for easing Evans in with limited snaps and a lighter load, especially if the team wants to be careful with his health, but there is also a clear appeal to making him a more prominent piece of the offense right away. However the staff handles it, Evans gives the 49ers a Week 1 decision that is about more than just availability. [Read more 🡒]