Patrick Willis gives stamp of approval to 49ers rookie linebacker

The Jaden Dugger hype train got a little bigger Thursday night, courtesy of legendary San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis.

Willis took to social media while watching the 49ers in action in their preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday and gave Dugger a glowing endorsement, saying he now understands why linebackers coach K.J. Wright liked the rookie linebacker so much coming out of college.

Dugger, whom the 49ers added in April as a fifth-round pick out of the University of Louisiana, has generated a good amount of buzz over the past month due to the flashes he's shown in training camp and during the preseason. Getting the thumbs-up from Willis, who is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and one of the great defensive players in team history, further cements Dugger as one of the more exciting prospects in the 2026 49ers draft class.

But while it may be fun to see Willis on board with Dugger's potential, there's still some distance between where Dugger is now and where he could be in a year or two. Dugger was viewed as a raw prospect with a lot of potential when the 49ers brought him aboard, and while he's displayed that potential at times during the preseason, he may have to wait his turn (barring injury) behind a veteran linebacker group before getting a high number of snaps on Sundays.

Dugger had some inconsistencies in Thursday's game against the Raiders, missing a tackle on one play while also showing speed and burst during a play where he put pressure on Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

Dugger finished with ten tackles and two quarterback hits Thursday while getting some extended minutes in the 49ers' 18-12 win. After the game, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan explained to reporters why Dugger got some extra snaps.

"It was good to get him out there playing all the way into the third quarter ... I'm excited to watch the tape," Shanahan said. "I thought he had some ups and downs throughout the game, and that's why I kept him in there a little bit longer, but I thought he finished pretty strong."

Regardless of what role Dugger plays on defense this year, it'll be fun to see him take steps forward and if the evaluations of Willis, Wright, and the 49ers turn out to be correct. He's at least put himself in a position to stay on the roster and find opportunities as arise about throughout the season.

"He's gotten a lot of playing time this training camp," Shanahan said. "He's a guy who, as a rookie, has got an opportunity to be out there a bunch this year. And where he's benefited is he didn't have any setbacks with injury. So he's got a lot of playing time, which has given him a chance to hopefully be ready going into the season."