It’s Week 1 just over a week away, and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan straight up admitted he doesn’t know who his starting left guard is going to be! Talk about cutting it close. This wild situation comes after a busy weekend that saw them shake up their offensive line group in some surprising ways.
The Veteran Out, The New Guy In, Total Chaos Ensues
The Niners made some moves to get down to 53 players, and one that raised eyebrows was the release of veteran guard Robert Jones. Jones had signed a one-year deal in the offseason and was in the mix for the left guard spot, though rookie Carver Willis had started gaining ground during training camp. You’d think a guy who spent the whole offseason with the team might at least be a depth piece, right? Nope. Just like that, Jones was gone. But before anyone could scratch their head too much, the answer came fast. San Francisco traded for Houston Texans offensive lineman Jarrett Patterson, a 27-year-old who was a sixth-round pick back in 2023. This dude has seen some action, playing in 39 games for the Texans and starting 21 of them, with experience at both center and guard. He even played all 17 games in 2025, starting five. So, they got a versatile player, but it definitely tossed a wrench into their Week 1 plans.
Shanahan’s Sprint to Week 1 Answers
So, what’s the plan for Patterson when Week 1 is staring them down? Shanahan summed it up on Tuesday: “To get him in the group right away.” He loves Patterson’s flexibility at both center and guard, which is good because with Willis now clearly in the guard mix, the 49ers needed some center depth too. Shanahan stressed that everything inside is “still fluid,” and he needs to see where Patterson fits in these next three days. “The time that we’re usually used to making some of these decisions have all been sped up,” Shanahan noted, clearly feeling the pressure. He wants to see Patterson “in person,” figure out how he can help at both guard and center, and “how he stacks up to the other guys.” This means they’re going to try Patterson at both positions, but man, there isn’t much time to nail that down. Shanahan flat out said he doesn’t know who the Week 1 starter at left guard is, calling the situation “truly fluid” after adding Patterson and without the usual practices to finalize things.
The clock is ticking for the 49ers with Week 1 just over a week away. They’ve got to integrate Jarrett Patterson, figure out the starting left guard spot, and settle their interior offensive line in a hurry. It’s going to be interesting to see how this shakes out before the opening whistle!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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