SANTA CLARA — As much attention as the 49ers quarterbacks are getting this training camp, we also can’t forget about the big fellas up front.
When the 49ers offensive line broke out into individual drills during Thursday’s practice, starting left tackle Trent Williams (veteran rest day), starting left guard Aaron Banks (concussion), backup tackle Jaylon Moore (left knee bone bruise) and backup center Jon Feliciano (shoulder sprain) were all wearing Niners gym gear instead of pads. While Feliciano could return Friday, Banks and Moore will continue to be monitored.
We’re only six days into camp with the preseason opener on Aug. 13 in Las Vegas, but the 49ers probably don’t want to wade too far into their depth chart at offensive line this season. Especially with the team’s recent run of bad luck with quarterback injuries.
The Niners lost four quarterbacks due to injury last year, but Josh Johnson (concussion) was the only one who got injured after an offensive lineman (Burford) got beat. While both Trey Lance (foot/ankle) and Jimmy Garoppolo (foot/ankle) got injured on the run, Brock Purdy (elbow) was hurt after tight end Tyler Kroft missed a block on the edge.
On Thursday, the first-team offensive line featured left tackle Leroy Watson IV, rotating left guards Nick Zakelj/Jason Poe, center Jake Brendel, right guard Spencer Burford and right tackle Colton McKivitz.
Despite the current mish-mash up front, there is some good continuity among the starting offensive line, which gave up the sixth-fewest sacks (31) in the league last year. Williams remains the OG of the unit and finished last season as Pro Football Focus’ highest-rated tackle (91.7). Banks (16 starts), Brendel (17 starts) and Burford (16 starts) anchored the middle of the line last year.
When Burford stepped to the podium Thursday, he was looking noticeably slimmer than his rookie season last year after transforming his body.
“Just trying to build up, gain muscle mass and cut off a lot of excess fat that I don’t need and excess weight that I don’t need,” Burford said. “Last year was probably the heaviest I’ve ever been in my life, as far as playing-wise. Moving from tackle to guard, I was trying to put on weight too fast, as far as just muscle mass, just so I wouldn’t get bounced around in there. But then I realized, you got guys that are a lot more lean. You don’t necessarily have to be the biggest to play guard.”
Burford said he trimmed about eight pounds off his frame and can feel the difference in both pass protection and run-blocking. Burford started nearly every game last year but played in 73 percent of the snaps, as Daniel Brunskilll ate into his playing time last season. Williams has taken an interest in the 23-year-old guard and gave him some tips over the offseason.
“Training with Trent paid off dividends,” Burford said. “That’s like my big brother at the end of the day. He took me under his wing. When I go out there and train with him, that’s really what we were focusing on – just making sure we were fit for camp.”
McKivitz appears to be the biggest question mark entering the season as he replaces veteran and former first-rounder Mike McGlinchey, who left to the Denver Broncos via free agency this offseason.
“Me and Colton – we flowing like water,” Burford said. “We’ll talk and feed off each other. Tendencies, what he likes to do and what I like to do. Basically just building the chemistry right now between me and him. Since Mike left, Colton was still in the room, so he can still pick up on a lot of things that I’m doing and I can pick up on things that he was doing.”
The 49ers are star-studded at the skill positions, but it won’t matter much if the offensive line can’t hold it together again this season.
It’s also worth noting that running back Elijah Mitchell is dealing with an adductor strain that’s expected to keep him out about 10 days, so his status for the Raiders game next week seems in doubt.
"Elijah's an extremely good back and he's had some unfortunate things with injuries," coach Kyle Shanahan said. "He is a very physical runner, but you don't strain your adductor because you're running physically."
