The San Francisco 49ers may have a problem on their hands as they search for a starting left guard, but the return of a rookie offensive linemen provides a new potential solution.
Rookie fifth-round pick Carver Willis was back in practice Monday after working through the NFL’s concussion protocol. He was lining up with the second-team offensive line at left guard according to ESPN’s Nick Wagoner.
That’s a significant inclusion to the mix at left guard for the 49ers and offensive line coach Chris Foerster. Second-year seventh-round pick Connor Colby started training camp as the first-team LG, but he gave way to veteran Robert Jones who hasn’t had a ton of success according to reports from the team facility.
Willis, an offensive tackle at the University of Washington, was supposed to start factoring in for the 49ers a week ago when he went down with a concussion. Now he’s back and while he isn’t up with the starters yet, his immediate insertion with the second group could portend a move up the training camp depth chart if he acquits himself well as a reserve.
It doesn’t sound like the bar is high for someone to assert themselves as the starter. Willis has the learning curve of a position change to deal with while also making the leap from college to the NFL. It’s a difficult move, but not an impossible one, and it appears the 49ers are hoping he may be able to do it in Year 1.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers key position battle gets shakeup as rookie returns from injury
Reporting by Kyle Madson, Niners Wire / Niners Wire
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By Kyle Madson, Niners Wire | USA TODAY Network
