Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Top position battles to watch in Week 2 of training camp

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - MAY 11: LaMichael James #23 of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball during Rookie Minincamp at the San Francisco 49ers practice facility on May 11, 2012 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - MAY 11: LaMichael James #23 of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball during Rookie Minincamp at the San Francisco 49ers practice facility on May 11, 2012 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 7: Linebacker Reuben Foster #10 of the Alabama Crimson Tide speaks to members of the media during the College Football Playoff National Championship Media Day on January 7, 2017 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 7: Linebacker Reuben Foster #10 of the Alabama Crimson Tide speaks to members of the media during the College Football Playoff National Championship Media Day on January 7, 2017 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Linebacker

The 49ers essentially have three players competition for two starting positions at linebacker this training camp — Malcolm Smith, NaVorro Bowman and Reuben Foster.

Bowman is all but likely to wind up at the MIKE position, leaving Smith and Foster to compete at WILL.

Foster (shoulder) was medically cleared for practice just before training camp, and he capped off his first day of activities with an intercepted pass during 7-on-7 drills:

The Niners’ first-round draftee hasn’t been working much with the first-team unit. That job has primarily gone to Smith, who was a relatively lucrative free-agent pickup earlier this offseason.

Smith knows he’s got heat behind him, as Niners Wire’s Jerod Brown pointed out:

"Smith certainly got the hint. In a handful of linebacker drills, he seemed intent on making himself noticed. Each rep was at 100 percent while other players, including Bowman, worked through their turn slowly. Smith may be looking to show that he’s more than a depth piece and rotational player."

It will be interesting to see if, and how long, Foster can take over a starting job from Smith.