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San Francisco 49ers: Starting lineup predictions as training camp starts

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - JULY 30: Mike Person #78, Kenny Wiggins #65 and Anthony Davis #76 of the San Francisco 49ers participate in drills during practice at the San Francisco 49ers training facility on July 30, 2011 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - JULY 30: Mike Person #78, Kenny Wiggins #65 and Anthony Davis #76 of the San Francisco 49ers participate in drills during practice at the San Francisco 49ers training facility on July 30, 2011 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 08: NaVorro Bowman #53 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts in the closing moments of their win over the Atlanta Falcons at Levi’s Stadium on November 8, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 08: NaVorro Bowman #53 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts in the closing moments of their win over the Atlanta Falcons at Levi’s Stadium on November 8, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Linebacker

SAM: Ahmad Brooks

WILL: Reuben Foster

MIKE: NaVorro Bowman

There’s some good competition at linebacker this training camp, although it’s one of the few positions where there’s a pretty clear idea how the starting lineup shapes up.

Veteran linebacker Ahmad Brooks, despite his advanced age, is the best candidate to assume the strong-side — or SAM — linebacker spot. He’ll be pressured by third-year pro Eli Harold and, to a lesser extent, Ronald Blair. But Brooks is in great shape to win out.

For the WILL (weak side) and MIKE linebackers, the 49ers have three bodies to compete — NaVorro Bowman, Reuben Foster and Malcolm Smith.

Smith was one of San Francisco’s bigger offseason additions via free agency, although he’s probably best suited as a primary backup, despite his relatively lucrative contract.

That leaves Bowman and Foster as the starters.

Bowman stated he’s fully recovered from the season-ending Achilles injury that cut his 2016 campaign short. Meanwhile, Foster has been cleared from his collegiate shoulder injury as well.

And Niner fans can only imagine what this pairing will look like this season.