49ers: 5 players who needed 2020 preseason to make 53-man roster
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: 49ers offensive tackle Shon Coleman
Yet another player coming off injury. Notice a trend here?
Ever since the Niners traded for former Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Shon Coleman, the 28-year-old veteran has yet to appear on the field for his new employer. This was OK in 2018, as Coleman merely had to back up starting tackles Joe Staley and Mike McGlinchey. But in Week 1 of the preseason last year, Coleman suffered a serious leg and ankle injury that landed him on injured reserve.
The intention was for Coleman to compete with then-rookie tackle Justin Skule, and Skule ended up being the primary beneficiary of Coleman’s injury. So did fellow lineman Daniel Brunskill, who is now poised to start at right guard.
Still, Coleman and Skule will probably battle it out for prime swing-tackle duties in 2020. Tack on another rookie, West Virginia’s Colton McKivitz, and one can see how the competition here is pretty deep.
The lack of a preseason hinders Coleman’s chances to prove he’s both healthy and serviceable enough to make San Francisco’s 53-man roster over those other two younger options.