Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Biggest winners and losers from first week of training camp 2018

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - MAY 11: LaMichael James #23 of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball running away from Michael Wilhoite #57 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 running away from Michael Wilhoite #57 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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PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 31: Offensive guard Jonathan Cooper #64 of the Dallas Cowboys is escorted off the field after an injury against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half of the game at Lincoln Financial Field on December 31, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 31: Offensive guard Jonathan Cooper #64 of the Dallas Cowboys is escorted off the field after an injury against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half of the game at Lincoln Financial Field on December 31, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Loser: Offensive Guard Jonathan Cooper

The 49ers right guard position is up for grabs, and it likely comes down to the battle between third-year pro Joshua Garnett and free-agent acquisition Jonathan Cooper.

Cooper underwent offseason MCL surgery and missed all the Niners’ offseason workouts prior to training camp. The idea was he’d be ready to go for training camp, but that’s not the case. Cooper started off camp on the physically unable-to-perform (PUP) list, which doesn’t bode well.

As a result, Garnett has been seeing the first-team snaps at right guard, which gives him a leg up in the competition.

San Francisco brought Cooper in because of his mobility and scheme fit in Kyle Shanahan’s outside-zone blocking system. Yet if there’s a knock against Cooper, it’s his injury history. He broke his leg his rookie season back in 2013, suffered a wrist injury the following year and then a knee injury in 2015. He also had a foot injury early in 2016.

It’s anyone’s guess whether or not Cooper will be ready in time for Week 1 of the regular season. In the meantime, the Niners are likely to lean harder on Garnett, not Cooper, starting at right guard in 2018.