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.
From @gmfb, #49ers are keeping rookie third-rounder Fred Warner at middle LB today vs the #Chiefs. He'll anchor the defense with Reuben Foster and Malcolm Smith on either side of him. Huge vote of confidence in Warner. pic.twitter.com/6032Nqu5Z2
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) September 23, 2018
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."
