One of the most important San Francisco 49ers training camp battles is taking place along the offensive line. Every starting position except one appears to be settled, with left guard remaining the lone question mark.
Casual observers might assume veteran Robert Jones is the frontrunner for the job. After all, he has taken the majority of the first-team snaps. However, that doesn't mean the competition is settled.
Connor Colby is also competing for the starting role, although he hasn't seemingly been able to close the gap on Jones.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan addressed reporters Tuesday and provided an update on the 49ers' left guard competition.
"I think it's too early to say," Shanahan said. "There definitely is a battle there. It's open for anybody. Those guys would probably be the lead at it."
Shanahan also noted that he is eager to see rookie Carver Willis, a fourth-round draft pick, compete for the left guard job. However, Willis missed time with a concussion, putting him further behind the other candidates.
Thursday night's preseason game against the Tennessee Titans could provide a valuable opportunity for one of the contenders to make a strong impression on the coaching staff.
"It's still early," Shanahan continued. "We want to see those guys in the games, too, but it's definitely a battle for us to see who gets that spot."
With 49ers preseason games about to get underway, Jones, Colby, and Willis will have opportunities to make their cases and potentially change the pecking order.
For a team hoping to protect quarterback Brock Purdy and establish consistency on offense, finding the right answer at left guard will be an important part of the 49ers' preparations for the regular season.
Mentioned in this article: Connor Colby, Brock Purdy, Carver Willis
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