49ers vs. Texans: 3 San Francisco players needing a strong Week 2 of preseason

Right Guard Joshua Garnett

At this point, Joshua Garnett really just needs to get on the field. Although he was put as the starter on the first depth chart of the 49ers, he’s not nearly there yet.

San Francisco 49ers

There isn’t much to say about Garnett anymore. He hasn’t played professional football in over a year and had just returned to the 49ers practice field this week. In fact, the only positives that Garnett can take away so far are that Jonathan Cooper, his competition, has also been injured, and that he’s finally practicing. That’s about it.

OK, now let’s get to the bad. In Garnett’s only professional season (2016), he was graded at 45.7 by Pro Football Focus, and allowed 33 total quarterback pressures. Those are not stats you want to see from your potential starting right guard.

A bigger issue the 49ers brass might have is Garnett’s knee injury. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said two weeks ago (h/t 49ers Webzone) that “I was a little surprised Garnett didn’t make it today. I’d be more surprised if he’s not out there tomorrow” and that “It’s tough to make this team and do it if you’re not out there.”

This is a bigger issue than you would realize. During the NFL Draft, the 49ers parted ways with right tackle Trent Brown for, among other reasons, not playing through his injury and not being committed to rehabbing, as Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee explained. Brown is far better than Garnett, even though he didn’t really fit the 49ers scheme, so Garnett is on notice.

Putting good tape on the field would help Garnett with his roster battle and would actually give teams tape on what type of player he is now.

Without it, his future with the 49ers and the NFL is looking bleak.