San Francisco 49ers rookie CJ West got his first taste of NFL action on Saturday—albeit in a preseason game. The Denver Broncos defeated the 49ers 30-9 in a matchup where most of San Francisco's starters remained on the sidelines in street clothes. While many fans might dismiss the game as meaningless in the standings, it carried significant weight for West.
"This matters to me," the rookie defensive tackle said after the game. "Every single snap I take out there matters because I want to prove for the team that I can do this, and I want to be here for my teammates. So everything matters to me."
West has already turned heads in 49ers training camp, flashing his raw strength and high-ceiling potential. Like many rookies, his performances have had their ups and downs, but his physical tools and work ethic consistently stand out.
In his first preseason outing, West said he felt comfortable and not overwhelmed by facing opposing NFL competition for the first time in a game setting. Still, he knows his development is just beginning.
"I have a long way to go," West admitted.
Consistency will be key in his development, as he looks to learn from the highs and lows of his NFL preseason debut.
"Just being consistent in my stuff, being consistent in being violent with my strike," West explained. "I've got to continue to just practice on that, and watch over this film, and see where I went wrong, and things that I did good. Take that into the next game and next practice against the Raiders."
That D.J. Jones comparison
West's size and play style have drawn comparisons to former 49ers defensive tackle D.J. Jones, who thrived in Robert Saleh's defensive system and is now entering his fourth season with the Broncos.
West previously said he studied Jones extensively in college because of their similar frames and on-field approach. When the 49ers held joint practices with Denver last week, West seized the chance to speak with the veteran defensive lineman.
"I talked to him because, like I said before, we're kind of like the same type of frame, build," West said. "Our game style is the same as well. So, I got a chance to talk to him and get a couple of tips here and there from him. It was great getting a chance to talk to him."
The resemblance didn't go unnoticed by Jones.
"When I first walked up to him, he was like, 'You kind of look like me,'" West recalled, laughing. "I was telling him, when I was in college, I watched a lot of his gameplay because, when you're a college guy, and you have a goal to go to the NFL, you kind of look for somebody in the league that kind of has your play style, your frame, you're build. And D.J. Jones was like the first person that came to mind. So I watched a lot of his film coming out of school."