The 49ers offensive line looks as if it could be the weakest spot on the team’s roster in training camp, especially in the middle.
One could safely make an argument the San Francisco 49ers have two predominant weaknesses on their 80-man offseason roster which have come to light during training camp: at wide receiver and their offensive line.
Wide receiver has garnered the most attention, particularly after the Niners lost presumed starting wideouts Deebo Samuel (foot) and Brandon Aiyuk (hamstring) to injuries. This has prompted head coach Kyle Shanahan and Co. to sign a number of free-agent receivers to bolster the depth chart in camp.
But both Samuel and Aiyuk are expected back early in the regular season, perhaps as soon as Week 1 on Sept. 13.
The O-line, however, is much less certain. Especially the interior where two positions — center and right guard — appear fully up for grabs.
The problems were compounded by news veteran center Weston Richburg was likely to start the regular season on the physically unable-to-perform list after suffering a season-ending patellar tear in his knee late last year. No big deal, right? After all, reserve lineman Ben Garland performed adequately enough in Richburg’s stead up to and throughout the playoffs.
But Garland has been banged up in training camp, too, forcing Shanahan to adjust with some shuffling up front.
And not too many of the interior O-line options to fill the void have truly proven to be viable options.
So that leads us to start thinking about predictions for this unit between now and the end of training camp, leading up to the formation of this unit come Week 1.
Perhaps these three predictions for the O-line come true.