Developmental unit has been a lifeblood for 49ers
The John Lynch/Kyle Shanahan 49ers have done an outstanding job of developing young players through their practice squad, which has turned out to be a virtual lifeblood for a team that has struggled through a steady stream of injuries since the new regime arrived in 2017.
That was particularly evident last year, when eight of the 10 players on San Francisco’s season-opening practice squad eventually were promoted to the 53-man roster, with several of them playing significant roles down the stretch to help the 49ers win two of the final four games, including two as starters.
In all, the 49ers had three graduates from their practice squad in the starting lineup for San Francisco’s season finale last year against the Rams in Los Angeles. Four practice-squad graduates — including quarterback Nick Mullens and running back/special teams ace Raheem Mostert, two key players on the team’s depth chart — began the regular season on the San Francisco roster.
A full host of 14 players that spent time on San Francisco’s practice squad in 2018 ultimately played in at least one game for the team during the season, meaning there’s a good chance the practice squad the 49ers assembled this September could ultimately impact the 2019 season.
With that in mind, here’s a rundown on San Francisco’s practice squad to open this season, how they got there and how they might help the team at some point this season and beyond.
RB JEFF WILSON JR.
Denne historien er fra October 2019-utgaven av Niner Report.
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Denne historien er fra October 2019-utgaven av Niner Report.
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EIGHT IS ENOUGH
Set 49ers lineup still has several new starters
Calling all cornerbacks
Loss of Verrett exposes 49ers’ thin depth at CB
Always finding their way to run
49ers system accomplished at developing homegrown talent
ANOTHER COMEBACK?
Resilient veteran Verrett to miss rest of season
TOP 10 Rookie running backs
THE BACK LIST
STOCK UP STOCK DOWN
DEOMMODORE LENOIR | AMBRY THOMAS
Will Mostert run for 49ers again?
Raheem Mostert was primed this year to be the centerpiece of one of the NFL’s most dynamic offenses, featured as the lead performer in San Francisco’s grinding rushing attack while making his climb among the league’s top running backs.
THE WONDER OF WARNER
49ers make All-Pro star highest-paid LB in NFL
Making the right choice at QB
In the weeks that follow after you read this — and perhaps sometime even sooner than that — Kyle Shanahan and the rest of the 49ers organization will make a titanic decision that will have present, future and perhaps even everlasting implications for the franchise. It will chart the course for the team’s pivotal 2021 season while determining whether San Francisco really does have the juice to return to powerhouse status and again be considered a legitimate contender to get back to the Super Bowl.
TOP 10 Linebacker seasons
Fred Warner vaulted to stardom with a spectacular 2020 season — and the 49ers rewarded him this summer with a $95.225 million deal that makes him the highest-paid inside linebacker in NFL history. By today’s standards, Warner’s performance last year was worth the money as he posted an Approximate Value of 19 — matching the highest score ever recorded by a San Francisco defender according to a Pro Football Reference formula that puts a single number on each player-season across all positions since 1960. Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman (twice) also had seasons with an AV of 19 as they dominate this list of the greatest individual seasons by a linebacker in 49ers history.
