New Starters Getting Settled

After three seasons characterized by the most extreme starting-lineup turnover in franchise history, the 49ers finally are settling in across the board with a starting unit that’s enjoying some stability.

- Craig Massei

Coming off an amazing stretch during which the 49ers had 13 new starters out of the 22 players who took the field on offense and defense in their season opener for three consecutive years, San Francisco had fewer than half that many new faces in its starting lineup this year for the team’s season opener at Tampa Bay on Sept. 8.

Now, that’s stability. And it’s the kind the 49ers have been searching for throughout the last half of this decade, ever since they were competing for NFC West titles and conference championships three head coaches ago.

Coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have been putting the pieces in place to build a contender since they arrived in 2017, but not many new parts were needed this year for the team’s leadership tandem to feel comfortable with a lineup they feel has the team set up to win.

But there are some notable changes from last year, mostly with newcomers brought in by the organization during the off season to fill specific positions and roles. Five of San Francisco’s six new starters on offense and defense against the Buccaneers were brought in earlier this year during free agency or the NFL draft, with the other starter a young player getting an opportunity to step in due to a recent injury to a projected starter.

The 49ers also have a newcomer to handle their punting duties in rookie fourth-round draft pick Mitch Wishnowsky — just the third regular punter to kick for the 49ers in the past 15 years.

Here, the Niner Report takes a look at every new starter — and the new punter — and where each stands as the team moves through the early part of its schedule, giving a bottom-line determination whether San Francisco is better or worse at the position now than the 49ers were when the season started last year.

WR DEEBO SAMUEL