The San Francisco 49ers are still grappling with who will lock down their left guard spot, with head coach Kyle Shanahan saying on Tuesday that the decision is “close to being decided.” This isn’t just about one position, it’s about the entire offensive line gelling for Week 1, and there’s a serious competition heating up with injuries making it even more complicated.
A Left Guard Carousel That Won’t Quit
It feels like we’re always talking about musical chairs at left guard for the Niners, right? Last season, Ben Bartch started but was out by October due to injury. Spencer Burford got banged up early, so seventh-round rookie Connor Colby was thrown into the fire. Frankly, none of them consistently looked the part, and Colby shouldn’t have been playing that early in his career. His teammates and coaches were confident he’d improve, and he was even handed the starting reins for training camp. But once the pads came on? He was quickly demoted. Talk about a gut punch.
Now, things have taken another twist. Injuries to Robert Jones and Austen Pleasants, both of whom are out for the preseason finale and aren’t expected back until “around Australia” according to Shanahan, have put Colby right back in the mix. Two weeks ago, it wasn’t clear if Colby would even make the roster, and now he’s a contender again. Shanahan clearly wants this settled, stating, “Today is the second-to-last day that we’ll get to evaluate. We’ll get it on the game.” He’s balancing Colby, Carver Willis, and the injured Jones, admitting they’ll “discuss and decide on who we want to play in Week 1.”
Roster Crunch: Who Gets On The Plane?
Shanahan did mention that Jones and Pleasants will be on the plane. If that’s his hint they’ve made the roster, it could spell trouble for Colby’s chances. Pleasants offers versatility, playing both tackle and guard. Jones is solid across both guard spots. Willis has been cross-training at all three interior line positions. If those guys, plus Trent Williams, Jake Brendel, Dominick Puni, Colton McKivitz, and Brett Toth are locks, that leaves just one open spot.
That tenth spot comes down to Colby or Enrique Cruz Jr. The team has to decide if Cruz Jr. has enough upside to keep, especially if he continues to look lost, as there’s little risk of losing him on waivers.
What’s next? The preseason finale on Thursday is HUGE. Keep your eyes peeled for how long Colby plays right guard. If he doesn’t get any snaps on the left side, the “battle” is pretty much over. It’ll also be interesting to see if the coaching staff rolls the dice and plays Jones after he missed two weeks, or if Willis gets significant playing time. This decision affects the entire offensive line, and the Niners need to get it right before the real games start.
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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