San Francisco 49ers: Top position battles to watch in Week 2 of training camp
By Peter Panacy
No. 4: Cornerback
By now, everyone knows Rashard Robinson will be the team’s No. 1 cornerback heading into 2017.
Yet the No. 2 duties, as well as at nickel, are still up for grabs.
San Francisco has worked out both Keith Reaser and Dontae Johnson opposite Robinson. There hasn’t been too much on either player separating himself in this competition, so it will be interesting to watch how this develops.
Equally of importance are the nickel duties. Like the No. 2 position, the Niners have two players competing for one spot here — K’Waun Williams and Will Redmond.
Per Rob Lowder of Niners Wire, both have looked good in their respective duties:
Johnson and Reaser split first-team reps opposite Robinson. Williams is the starter at nickel. Both he and Redmond have looked good. #49ers https://t.co/RfeS0kWCY1
— Rob Lowder (@Rob_Lowder) July 30, 2017
Redmond, who missed his 2016 rookie campaign while recovering from a collegiate ACL tear, may be a bit behind Williams insofar as NFL development. Yet the competition is a good thing to note so far.
In an ideal world, the Niners would have third-round rookie draft pick, Ahkello Witherspoon, assume the No. 2 job.
Witherspoon will still take time to develop, leaving Reaser and Johnson as the guys to watch here.