The San Francisco 49ers are heading back to their SAP Performance Facility as players wrap up a month-long break, and the biggest question mark on defense has to be Fred Warner. This guy, who’s been one of the league’s best linebackers since they drafted him in 2018, is coming off a brutal Week 6 injury last year where he suffered a dislocated and broken ankle. That took him out for the entire season. Now, as they kick off their 10th training camp under head coach Kyle Shanahan, everyone’s watching to see if the 29-year-old has lost a step after that rigorous recovery.
New Faces and Big Returns for the D-Line
It’s not just about Warner’s comeback, though. The 49ers are also bringing in some new muscle, especially upfront. They snagged defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa from the Dallas Cowboys this offseason, a trade explicitly made to beef up the center of their defensive line. Odighizuwa spent five years with the Cowboys, racking up 216 tackles, 81 quarterback hits, and 17 sacks in 84 games. He was a third-round pick in 2021, and the big question once the pads come on in camp is how different that front seven looks with him in the mix under new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.
And don’t sleep on rookie EDGE Romello Height. The 49ers drafted eight players this year, and Height was their first defensive pick. After spending six years across four different schools and earning All-Big 12 honors last year, he’s got 16.5 sacks and 111 tackles in 50 career games. With big names like Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams, and Keion White all recovering from surgeries, Height should get plenty of run early on. It’s a huge chance for him to prove what he can do.
The Backfield & What’s Next
The secondary also has a guy to keep an eye on: cornerback Upton Stout. He split his college career between North Texas and Western Kentucky, earning All-C-USA honors along the way. While there’s not much more detail on him in the early reports, a new coordinator always means new opportunities for players looking to make an impact.
The veterans don’t even report until next Saturday, July 25, but this camp is huge for the 49ers defense. With Fred Warner’s health, a new defensive coordinator in Raheem Morris, and fresh talent like Odighizuwa and Height pushing for spots, the next month will tell us a ton about what this unit will look like. It’s all about getting healthy and gelling for the long season ahead.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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