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49ers vs. Texans: 5 players to watch in preseason Week 2

By Aaron Tan

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 10: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass in the second half defended by Angelo Blackson at NRG Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images
HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 10: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass in the second half defended by Angelo Blackson at NRG Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images /
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GLENDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 13: Offensive guard Joshua Garnett #65 (center) of the San Francisco 49ers lines up during the second half of the NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on November 13, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals beat the 49ers 23-20. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 13: Offensive guard Joshua Garnett #65 (center) of the San Francisco 49ers lines up during the second half of the NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on November 13, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals beat the 49ers 23-20. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Offensive Guard Joshua Garnett

2016 first-round pick Joshua Garnett just may be the most polarizing player on this team.

He’s been in the league for two years, and I still don’t know his abilities and potential as a player. All I know is that he’s been hurt for the past year, and his rookie season was a major disappointment. But again, he’s been hurt the past year, and I want to see how much he has improved since last playing.

The writing is on the wall for Garnett’s release from the team, as Kyle Shanahan has publicly criticized him for not practicing, but I’m rooting for the offensive guard to get his second chance. He was a first-round pick, and yes, he was drafted by former general manager Trent Baalke, but all first-round picks have potential in them.

Garnett deserves to get his second chance to unlock that potential that Baalke saw in him.

Garnett returned to practice this week and has already been working with the first-team offense. We will be able to see him for the first time in over a year on the field, and I am really excited about that.