49ers training camp: 5 storylines you didn’t expect to happen (but they did)

49ers training camp is nearly over, and the preseason is just days away. And while there have been storylines that developed, you didn’t expect these five to pan out.

It sure feels like the 2022 installment of San Francisco 49ers training camp kicked off only days ago, and yet here we are with only a handful of practices left before the Niners being their preseason campaign against the visiting Green Bay Packers on Friday, Aug. 12.

In what could be a microcosm of the upcoming regular season, a number of stories were expected.

Case in point, quarterback Trey Lance would likely experience some ups and downs. And for the most part, that’s exactly what happened. Many also predicted wide receiver Deebo Samuel would get his lucrative contract extension at some point early in camp, probably just before the pads came on.

That happened, too.

Yet some of the unexpected developments San Francisco has seen in the last two-plus weeks have been provocative.

Let’s dive into those 49ers training camp storylines as well, breaking down what wasn’t predicted earlier this offseason.

Unexpected 49ers training camp storyline No. 5: Trey Sermon stock on the rise

At the end of 2021, signs were pointing to then-rookie running back Trey Sermon being a busted pick after he managed a mere 167 rush yards after the Niners used a third-round pick on him in that year’s NFL Draft.

Seemingly buried behind fellow rookie rusher Elijah Mitchell, and then pushed down even further by another third-round draft addition in 2022, Tyrion Davis-Price, Sermon didn’t exactly look as if he’d be much of a factor for San Francisco this season.

Instead, there have been plenty of signs pointing to Sermon serving as primary support for Mitchell entering the new season.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle described how the former Ohio State tailback was making serious dents in camp:

"Sermon consistently has flashed physicality in padded training-camp practices. On Saturday, Sermon punctuated a sizable up-the-gut run by flattening cornerback Dontae Johnson. His teammates noticed: Quarterback Trey Lance and wide receiver Deebo Samuel gave Sermon good-job slaps before the next snap. On Wednesday, Sermon had a similar run in which he unleashed a celebratory yell after steamrolling cornerback Ka’dar Hollman."

Efforts like this may not unseat Mitchell as the primary RB1 this season, but it’s certainly possible Sermon winds up overtaking Davis-Price and other tailbacks for a much bigger role.

Few probably saw that coming earlier this offseason.