San Francisco 49ers: 3 surprise starters on offense in 2020
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: 49ers Center Ben Garland
Right guard isn’t the only position along San Francisco’s offensive line with some question marks.
Albeit for an entirely different reason, the starting center job isn’t quite set heading into 2020 training camp. On paper, it would go to one of the Niners’ highest-paid offensive players, Weston Richburg, although Richburg’s season-ending knee injury suffered in Week 14 against the New Orleans Saints last year could ultimately change the O-line’s formation early this season.
True, Richburg appears to be on track for the preseason, according to the latest speculation and reports.
If he isn’t, though, backup center Ben Garland would be the beneficiary.
Garland, who worked with Kyle Shanahan with the Atlanta Falcons back in 2016, assumed first-team reps during 2019 training camp when Richburg was dealing with an unrelated injury and recovery. Then when Richburg was lost for the season, the starting nod went to Garland again.
As a result, the 49ers re-inked Garland to another one-year deal to keep him around in the same role once more this season.
Depending on Richburg’s recovery, it wouldn’t be a total shocker to see Garland assume first-team reps again during training camp. And while it’s not ideal for Garland to start in Week 1, there’s a good chance it winds up happening anyway.