49ers training camp 2018: Top takeaways from July 31 practice

49ers Working with Fred Warner at MIKE Linebacker

It’s a bit of an open-ended question what the Niners plan to do with rookie linebacker Fred Warner this season.

Warner’s pass-coverage abilities are a tremendous asset in today’s pass-first NFL, and San Francisco now has a plethora of linebackers with both Reuben Foster and Malcolm Smith fully in the mix.

Tuesday marked Smith’s first action in training camp (he was previously on the NFI list), and he saw time with the first-team unit at MIKE. According to Niners Nation’s Jennifer Lee Chan, though, the Niners inserted Warner at the MIKE spot when Smith came out:

This is where the 49ers played Warner during OTAs and minicamp earlier this offseason. Robert Saleh views both the MIKE and weak-side (WILL) linebacker spots as interchangeable — the only difference being the MIKE calls out plays in the huddle.

Getting first-team reps is obviously good for Warner, who might see his role increase during Foster’s two-game suspension to start the season.

After that, though, things get interesting. The Niners don’t have a tremendous amount of depth over at the strong-side (SAM) linebacker spot, and veteran Eli Harold might be a a guy San Francisco looks to upgrade.

Or, possibly, the 49ers could consider moving Smith over to SAM, as he has prior experience playing there in a similar system to which Saleh operates. That would feasibly allow Warner to occupy the MIKE during the regular season, leaving Foster to be the playmaking WILL linebacker when he returns.

San Francisco kicks off day six of training camp on Wednesday, Aug. 1 at 1:15 p.m. from Santa Clara. Our own Aaron Tan will be in attendance, so be sure to give him a follow — @AaronTanFB — on Twitter for live updates and analysis.