Trent Williams holdout could pave the way for Jaylon Moore to make camp statement
By Peter Panacy
![San Francisco 49ers guard Jaylon Moore (76) San Francisco 49ers guard Jaylon Moore (76)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3741,h_2104,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/42/01j3np6g6dcjzcwp2d5t.jpg)
With Trent Williams holding out during 49ers training camp, Jaylon Moore stands to improve his shaky roster chances.
The NFL is all about opportunity, and that's precisely what fourth-year pro offensive lineman Jaylon Moore has at the start of the San Francisco 49ers' training camp sessions.
Moore, a career backup to this point, has a shaky future with the team, namely due to the influx of rookies and veteran free agents the Niners onboarded earlier this offseason, particularly draftees like Dominick Puni and Jarrett Kingston.
It also doesn't help Moore is entering a contract year with just over $80,000 in dead money, if he fails to make the 53-man roster.
But, that said opportunity is staring Moore in the face right now.
All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams is a holdout, aiming to get a better contract heading into the season. So, with the future Hall of Famer not present during camp, the first-team reps at left tackle have to go to someone else.
With two days of practice in the books, Moore has been the go-to option:
As #49ers begin team drills, still no sign of LT Trent Williams who occasionally pops out after individual drills. It’s Jaylon Moore at LT for Williams in first snaps of team.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) July 24, 2024
San Francisco kept Moore in a swing tackle role last season. But, after signing veteran tackle Chris Hubbard last spring, it's fair to wonder if Moore could be pushed down the depth chart.
It's still a possibility, especially if Moore winds up struggling in the higher-profile role while Williams is absent.
But, the fact the 49ers are looking at Moore first alongside the starters is a good sign they have faith in him above their remaining options in Williams' stead.
If Moore winds up doing enough in camp, it'll go a long way toward solidifying a spot high up the depth chart, moving him from the fringes of the roster into the ranks of being an immediate backup, not unlike what he was a year ago.
All Moore has to do is take advantage of said opportunity.
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