49ers 3 most burning questions entering Week 2 of 2019 NFL preseason
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: 49ers Offensive Line Depth
Last year, San Francisco enjoyed a relatively full clean slate of health along its offensive line. The only starter to miss a start was center Weston Richburg, and he missed just one game during 2018. The rest — Joe Staley, Laken Tomlinson, Mike Person and Mike McGlinchey — were all able to play a full 16-game season.
Pretty lucky there.
Entering 2019, though, things look a bit more problematic. Richburg still hasn’t been cleared to practice, as he’s still recovering from offseason knee surgery. The 49ers’ prime swing-tackle candidate, Shon Coleman, suffered a dislocated ankle and broken leg during the team’s Week 1 preseason win over the Dallas Cowboys. He’s on injured reserve now.
Coleman’s absence could put the rookie, Justin Skule, into a position he might not be quite ready for: backing up Staley and McGlinchey this season.
The interior is also thin, although Kyle Shanahan seems impressed enough to give perennial backup lineman Ben Garland Richburg’s snaps during training camp so far.
Garland, Skule and others, such as Najee Toran and Ross Reynolds, are all still squarely on the roster bubble, though. There isn’t a shoo-in reserve candidate among this group, which could prove to be very problematic if the Niners suffer a multitude of O-line injuries.
Considering how much attrition this unit can experience any given year, it’s a concern worth monitoring as the season moves along.