Daniel Brunskill and Tom Compton were slated for a heated training camp battle for the starting right guard job. It sounds like one San Francisco 49ers beat writer, Matt Barrows of The Athletic, feels the latter is primed to win the job.
It has nothing to do with the competition because there has been no competition. Center Ben Garland made sure of that after suffering an ankle sprain that will keep him sidelined for the remainder of camp. He is expected to be healthy for Week 1, though.
That injury has forced Brunskill to fill in at center, leaving Compton with most of the reps at right guard.
"That likely means Garland and Tom Compton are the center and right guard combination for that game (against the Arizona Cardinals)," Barrows recently wrote in a mailbag. "Why? Because Garland's absence has meant Brunskill has had to fill in at center instead of dueling with Compton at right guard."
It looks like Garland's injury may have cost Brunskill a potential starting job. However, it also means the already versatile offensive lineman is receiving valuable reps at center, should he be needed to fill in during the season.
Garland, by the way, is keeping the spot warm himself with starter Weston Richburg expected to land on the physically-unable-to-perform (PUP) list and missing at least the first six games of the season. He is attempting to return from the torn patellar tendon he suffered late last season.
Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
Fred Warner, Nick Bosa react to 49ers hiring Robert Saleh: 'It means a lot'
By David Bonilla
16 hrs
Fred Warner is among several San Francisco 49ers players in Orlando, Florida, this week for the Pro Bowl festivities. NBC Sports Bay Area caught up with the star linebacker for the first time since the team hired Robert Saleh to replace Nick Sorensen as defensive...
Daniel Jeremiah's first mock draft: 49ers address the O-line
By David Bonilla
Jan 26
The San Francisco 49ers last used a first-round pick on an offensive lineman in 2018, selecting tackle Mike McGlinchey with the ninth overall pick. Of course, the team lacked a first-round pick in 2022 and 2023, preventing them from addressing the offensive front in those...
Why the 49ers' wait for Robert Saleh could extend beyond this weekend
By David Bonilla
Jan 23
Former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh is scheduled to meet with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Friday for a second interview regarding their head coaching vacancy. Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers are closely monitoring the situation, as head coach Kyle Shanahan is...
ESPN predicts $196 million contract extension for 49ers QB Brock Purdy
By David Bonilla
Jan 31
ESPN's Dan Graziano recently projected contract figures for 10 upcoming free agents and extension-eligible players. Among the latter is San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, who is expected to become the highest-paid player in franchise history. The bigger question...
