Niner Noise
FanSided

5 players who were pushed onto the 49ers’ roster bubble during 2019 OTAs

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 30: Richie James #13, Kendrick Bourne #84 and Trent Taylor #81 of the San Francisco 49ers look on during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 30, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 30: Richie James #13, Kendrick Bourne #84 and Trent Taylor #81 of the San Francisco 49ers look on during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 30, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 01: Martavis Bryant #12 of the Oakland Raiders is tackled by Elijah Lee #47 of the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on November 1, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 01: Martavis Bryant #12 of the Oakland Raiders is tackled by Elijah Lee #47 of the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on November 1, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

No. 4: Linebacker Elijah Lee

A year ago, veteran linebacker Malcolm Smith lost a starting job late in the season to backup linebacker Elijah Lee, who ended up starting five games to close out 2018. Lee performed admirably well in that stead, too, which possibly influenced the 49ers’ renegotiation of Smith’s contract to a one-year deal during the offseason.

That was before San Francisco brought in free-agent wide receiver Kwon Alexander and subsequently drafted Arkansas’ Dre Greenlaw, however.

Both Alexander (knee) and second-year backer Fred Warner (knee) didn’t participate in OTAs and likely won’t see practice time until training camp, so the injury concerns likely keep Lee safe.

For now.

The thing, though, is the Niners worked Smith with the first-team linebackers during OTAs. And San Francisco’s defensive switch to a wide-9 alignment means the strong-side linebacker can now play the traditional “stack” linebacker role, meaning all three backers are much more interchangeable.

This benefits Smith, who seems to hold the favor over Lee, despite the latter’s strong finish to 2018.