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 – 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) /

No. 2: Offensive Guard Joshua Garnett

Lingering 2018 injuries to a couple of players along the interior of the 49ers offensive line helped keep former first-round NFL Draft pick, offensive guard Joshua Garnett, somewhat safe on the roster bubble heading into OTAs.

Namely knee injuries to left guard Laken Tomlinson and center Weston Richburg.

Garnett served as the primary backup last year, seeing action when Tomlinson went down in Week 17. But Tomlinson was able to return from his MCL sprain and was working with the first-team unit.

That doesn’t bode well for Garnett.

Neither does the fact Richburg, while being out, saw his first-team reps go to journeyman lineman Ben Garland, who has prior experience working under head coach Kyle Shanahan. Garnett wouldn’t take snaps at center, of course, but it’s looking as if Garland is on pace to take up one of the backup interior spots after training camp.

Shanahan could have, feasibly, put right guard Mike Person at center — a position he’s played before — and then give Garnett some reps in Person’s void.

It didn’t happen, though, meaning Garnett is squarely on the bubble now. And perhaps on the weaker side.