49ers linebacker Dee Winters shares what motivated him to seize starting job

SANTA CLARA — At the opening of the NFL free-agent signing period, 49ers linebacker Dee Winters knew this season would be different.Linebacker Dre Greenlaw signed a three-year, $31.5 million contract with the Denver Broncos, and Winters had a clear path toward being a full-time starter.But it was not quite that simple, either.Winters left no room for doubt with a strong offseason and training camp leading into the regular season. And he has gotten off to a strong start while serving as a great complement to 49ers All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner.Winters learned plenty in his first two NFL seasons, and now he is carrying it over into Sundays.“I think it’s just the consistency of Dre and Fred, how they showed up to work every week, just the intent and how they worked,” Winters said on “49ers Talk.” “I think that was huge. And that’s what I’m trying to implement in my game going on Year 3 and moving forward.”Winters entered the NFL in 2023 as a sixth-round draft pick from TCU. He did not play much as a rookie, as he was stuck behind Greenlaw on the depth chart. And even as he started 10 games last season, it always felt...