Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
49ers will start Fred Warner at MIKE vs. Chiefs, per Mike Garafolo
Sep 23, 2018 at 7:00 AM
•
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has been understandably secretive with his linebacker lineup for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, however, revealed his secret on Sunday morning.
According to the NFL insider, rookie
Fred Warner will start at the MIKE linebacker spot with second-year star
Reuben Foster, who is returning from a two-game suspension for violations of the league's policies on substances of abuse and personal conduct, starting at WILL.
Malcolm Smith will finally make his 49ers debut and start at the SAM linebacker spot, a position where the veteran has little experience. Shanahan and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh have been eager to get Smith, who missed all of last season with a torn pectoral muscle and the first two games of this season with a hamstring injury, onto the football field. They have also repeatedly stated that the goal is to find a way to get the best players in the game and moving Smith to SAM might be one way to do that.
Smith hasn't played at the SAM linebacker spot since early in his NFL career. He was asked on Friday about possibly moving to the position after so much experience inside.
"It would be different," he responded. "SAM is kind of a different position to go at on defense."
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
No Huddle Podcast: 49ers Offseason Musings With Legendary Columnist Mike Silver
(Episode 330) — Legendary columnist Mike Silver joins the show to discuss the Brandon Aiyuk trade rumors and trade value, priorities in the secondary, Mike's book, and more! You can read Mike's work at the San Francisco Chronicle.
The audio for the show is embedded above. Remember to subscribe!
You can watch the interview below.
You can listen to the latest "No Huddle Podcast" episode above, from
Mike Silver on how Deebo Samuel's contract might be the starting point for a Brandon Aiyuk extension
With the 2024 NFL Draft less than a week away, it's common for the rumor mill to start churning, especially with players who are actively seeking a new contract. It was just two short years ago that WR Deebo Samuel requested a trade from the San Francisco 49ers prior to draft day, only for cooler heads to prevail and eventually agree to a new deal.
Now, it's WR Brandon Aiyuk's turn to try and get paid and rumors surfaced over the weekend that he too would request to be dealt. While that report was quickly shot down by his agent, there's still a lot of discussion about Aiyuk's future and if other teams will come calling on draft night.
Legendary columnist Mike Silver joined
49ers sign WR Trent Taylor, reuniting with former draft pick
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
Draft Watch: Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley visiting 49ers on Wednesday
The San Francisco 49ers are hosting several draft prospects this week as the deadline for pre-draft visits draws near. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the team will host former Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley on Wednesday.
Corley is expected to be a Day 2 pick. San Francisco owns two selections on Day 2—the No. 63 overall pick in the second round and the No. 94 overall pick in the third round. Currently, the receiver is visiting with the Seattle Seahawks.
Western Kentucky @WKUFootball receiver Malachi Worley
