Every player comes into an NFL training camp with a lot to prove. Even the great Jerry Rice said he always felt like he had to prove himself and earn his spot on the team. So the current San Francisco 49ers' players should be no different.
But there are some players, for a variety of reasons, that have even more to prove than what's normal. And this year, it's no different. The 49ers have a number of players entering training with a lot to prove, throughout camp, preseason, and the 2023 season itself. Here are five 49ers with a lot to prove this training camp:
1. Trey Lance
We all know the story. Trey Lance was drafted as the heir to the 49ers quarterback throne. Some thought the young, raw QB should have played more as a rookie than the 10 quarters he played. But instead, he mostly sat and learned.
Then in his second season, he was given the keys to the kingdom, only to have them taken away early when he was lost for the season due to injury. Then the emergence of a barely-drafted rookie quarterback, who ran Kyle Shanahan's offense more efficiently than any other 49ers' signal-caller had during Shanahan's regime, meant Lance's reign may be over before it really even started.
After a great showing by Brock Purdy, Lance was relegated to a backup role. Then in March, the 49ers signed Sam Darnold, seemingly to compete with Lance for the number two spot.
Lance has been at the center of great controversy among the 49ers' fanbase, and national media. He's been criticized, scrutinized, busticized (my word for being called a bust), lied about, had his hairline mocked, you name it. And all this while trying to learn how to be an NFL quarterback, while recovering from an injury. That's a tough gig.
Trey Lance has a lot to prove. And I, for one, believe he will.
2. Deebo Samuel
With all due respect to Deebo Samuel, I disagree with his confession that he was "awful" in 2022. It's true that he didn't live up to his 2021 self, where he had 1,405 yards receiving to go along with 365 yards on the ground. He also had 14 touchdowns (6 receiving, 8 rushing), and was named first-team All-Pro. Then came the offseason.
Samuel was going to get a new contract in 2022. And it was going to happen, like the 49ers always do it, on the eve of training camp, or shortly thereafter. But Samuel grew impatient and decided to allow the wait to become a major distraction for himself, and he showed up to camp unprepared. He even admitted as much. "I was kind of behind a ball a little bit as far as being in my routine that I'll normally be in for the offseason, getting ready to play because, like I said, a lot of distractions were going on," Samuel said. "I kind of felt it, but I was just trying to will my way to help the team in every aspect possible."
In 2022, Samuel had only 632 yards receiving, 232 yards rushing, and scored only 5 touchdowns. He also missed 4 games due to injury. Samuel vowed never to put anything like that on tape again. He looked to be in shape in June, during the minicamp. Expect to see a stronger, faster, and better-conditioned Deebo Samuel than what we saw last season, as he looks to regain his 2021 form.
3. Drake Jackson
Drake Jackson started out strong in his rookie season but lost steam down the stretch. He had three sacks in the team's first six games, but none the rest of the season. Eight of his 14 tackles came within the first six games, as well. Jackson showed potential off the bench last year, but the 49ers need more from him in his sophomore season.
The 49ers haven't had a consistent pass rush from the side opposite of Nick Bosa since 2019 when Dee Ford was healthy enough to actually play in some games. Jackson has a lot of athletic talent and could be the kind of pass rusher the 49ers believe they drafted. If Jackson can develop into a consistent pass rush threat, he will take pressure off Bosa, as well as the defensive tackles and the secondary.
Jackson's emergence could be a huge development for the 49ers. Now he just needs to prove he can be that guy.
4. Elijah Mitchell
Elijah Mitchell rushed for 963 yards as a rookie. He ran the ball 207 times (4.7 yards per carry) and never fumbled. The 49ers needed him to step up like that in 2021. After only two carries, the team lost Raheem Mostert on the second offensive possession of the season. Third-round draft pick, Trey Sermon, wasn't impressing coaches, so Mitchell, a sixth-round draft pick, had to.
The problem in 2021, and in 2022, was that he missed too many games. Mitchell missed six games, making his accomplishments on the field even more impressive. But in 2022, Mitchell only played in five games. He could not stay healthy. Even during the minicamp in June, reports were that Mitchell was working off to the side, evidently dealing with some kind of injury. So we still don't know if he will show up to training camp healthy.
When he did play in 2022, Mitchell was very effective, averaging 6.2 yards per carry. The 49ers need him to be healthy. Christian McCaffrey needs Mitchell to be healthy. And Mitchell needs to prove he can stay healthy and be that valuable part of the rushing attack in 2023.
5. Javon Kinlaw
Whether it was supposed to work out this way or not, Javon Kinlaw was drafted to, at least, in part, replace DeForest Buckner. It wasn't Kinlaw's fault, but he's the one that everyone focuses on. He's not Buckner, and so far, he hasn't even been a player the team can rely on, because of injuries.
Kinlaw was drafted with knee problems that have haunted him his entire pro career. In his three NFL seasons, Kinlaw has played only 24 games. He's contributed 1.5 sacks and 45 tackles to go along with 5 QB hits. He did have an interception that he returned for 27 yards as a rookie.
Since his rookie season, in which he played in 14 games, Kinlaw has played a combined 10 games in two seasons. And when he's played, he hasn't had the impact fans wanted him to have. Is it the injuries? Or is it the pressure of being a high draft pick brought in to replace a very good and well-loved player? Maybe it's a little of both.
For now, the hope is that Kinlaw is healthy and that with the addition of Javon Hargrave, Kinlaw can fall into a reserve rotation, taking pressure off of him so he can have fun and just play. If Kinlaw can be a solid rotational piece along the defensive line, it can be a big boost for the 49ers' defense, and for his own career, as he will be a free agent in 2024.
Kinlaw has a lot to prove—to himself and his team. Can he stay healthy? Can he make an impact as a backup defensive lineman?
Those are five players who have a lot to prove in 49ers training camp and in the coming 2023 season. Which ones will respond and do so?
- Marc Adams
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Written by:Speaker. Writer. Covering the San Francisco 49ers. Host of the 49ers Camelot show.
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