49ers player stock watch halfway through 2018 preseason

HOUSTON, TX - AUGUST 18: Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers attempts to break a tackle attempt by Zach Cunningham #41 of the Houston Texans during a preseason game at NRG Stadium on August 18, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - AUGUST 18: Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers attempts to break a tackle attempt by Zach Cunningham #41 of the Houston Texans during a preseason game at NRG Stadium on August 18, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – JANUARY 01: Joshua Garnett #65 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after Shaun Draughn #24 of the San Francisco 49ers ran in for a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium on January 1, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – JANUARY 01: Joshua Garnett #65 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after Shaun Draughn #24 of the San Francisco 49ers ran in for a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium on January 1, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Offensive Guard Joshua Garnett

Like Jimmie Ward, third-year offensive guard Joshua Garnett has been under the gun for most of training camp and into the preseason.

Another one of the former general manager Trent Baalke’s holdovers, there’s plenty of reasoning to assume Garnett’s roster spot is in jeopardy despite him being a former first-round draft pick. And with Garnett missing most of camp with a knee injury, one could easily see how he’s losing out in the competition to start at right guard in 2018.

Garnett returned to full activities last week during joint practices with the Texans. And while he didn’t start Week 2 of the preseason, he sure saw his fair share of snaps during the game, playing late into the third quarter.

And Garnett held his own too. Aside from a late pass-protection gaffe, Garnett was able to manage pass protection at the line of scrimmage, ensuring quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo and C.J. Beathard were protected from Houston’s interior rushers. All the while, Garnett moved well and didn’t show signs of the injury that held him out for the better part of the past few weeks.

Garnett still has to prove he’s a better option at right guard than fellow linemen Mike Person and Jonathan Cooper — the latter, who was just cleared from an offseason MCL procedure, saw action behind Garnett.

While Garnett still has a long way to go, it’s refreshing to see him perform well in his first in-game activities under head coach Kyle Shanahan.

Stock: Up