While there were a lot of positives to take away from the San Francisco 49ers’ preseason romp of the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night, there was one pretty glaring red flag: the sketchy play at left guard.
It was a question both in the offseason and in training camp, and now, with the regular season almost here, it’s become something of an emergency.
Connor Colby was the favorite for the job, but he’s struggled mightily. On Thursday, the Niners went with Austin Pleasants, but he made a huge mistake that led to a pick-six and then injured his knee. Rookie Carver Willis also got reps at the position but failed to cash in.
None of the current options on the roster are trustworthy enough to entrust with the job, which is why general manager John Lynch should seriously be considering a reunion with left guard Laken Tomlinson.
Laken Tomlinson could be the final piece of 49ers' O-line puzzle
The veteran offensive lineman played with the Niners from 2017 to 2021, which was also the beginning of the Kyle Shanahan-John Lynch regime. Tomlinson even earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2021 but subsequently departed for the New York Jets.
He’s coming off an injury, but he seems to be healthy now, and reports are he is ready and willing to play. He may be 34 years old, and chances are he is not the same player he was five years ago, but at this point the Niners have nothing to lose.
At the very least, he can serve as a solid veteran who can be rotated into the mix if the Niners choose to split time at the position. Best-case scenario, he thrives and provides some much-needed stability to the weakest spot on the team’s offensive line.
If this were more of a rebuilding year for the Niners and they had no plans to chase a Super Bowl, the musical chairs act wouldn't be much of a problem. But the Niners are in win-now mode. They can’t afford to have anyone learning on the job, especially a guy who will be responsible for protecting franchise quarterback Brock Purdy.
The left guard spot is a clear deficiency, and it’s time the Niners try to adequately address it before it comes back to bite them in a major way during the regular season. Lynch surely still has Tomlinson’s number. It wouldn't hurt to give him a call and have him out for a workout.
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