49ers training camp player No. 2: OG Tom Compton
The Niners offensive line is a bit banged up in camp, namely with the news center Weston Richburg is likely to start the year on the physically unable-to-perform (PUP) list while recovering from last year’s knee injury. Richburg’s backup, Ben Garland, is also dealing with an injury and is likely to miss a chunk of time between now and Week 1.
As of now, uber-offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill is occupying first-team reps at center. Entering camp, Brunskill’s primary job was to compete with one of the few free agents San Francisco brought aboard during the offseason, former New York Jets guard Tom Compton.
Brunskill’s move to center should be good news for Compton, who would have likely been out of a job if the former won the competition outright.
Yet Compton, according to reports, hasn’t exactly thrived with the increased opportunity and finds himself regularly being overworked by second- and third-string defensive linemen.
Injuries to Richburg, Garland and second-year guard Ross Reynolds increase Compton’s chances of making the 53-man roster, especially if Garland is out for a longer period of time than initially anticipated.
For now, however, it’s looking as if Compton is working his way towards the back fringes of the roster bubble.