{"id":4985,"date":"2026-07-20T11:36:55","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T11:36:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4985"},"modified":"2026-07-20T11:36:55","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T11:36:55","slug":"49ers-offensive-line-seeks-left-guard-and-nfc-west-kryptonite","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4985","title":{"rendered":"49ers’ offensive line seeks left guard — and NFC West kryptonite"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

SANTA CLARA \u2013 Help wanted: left guard.<\/p>\n

Finding a new starter there is the 49ers\u2019 task, and if that is all their offensive line must worry about in training camp, then bring on their NFC West nightmares.<\/p>\n

Read more Today in History: July 20, World War I draft lottery begins<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s never that simple, is it? Health issues might arise and other competitions could emerge as linemen\u2019s blood, sweat and tears flow.<\/p>\n

For now, the only vacant spot on the starting offense is at left guard, wedged between 12-time Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams and seemingly entrenched center Jake Brendel.<\/p>\n

Connor Colby, one of three starters at left guard last season, will compete there against free-agent acquisitions Robert Jones and Brett Toth, the latter of whom is seen more as a center. Rookie Carver Willis joins the mix, and Nick Zakelj also has been in the system a few years under offensive line czar Chris Foerster.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re going to all get their chances somewhere. We\u2019re going to have to go with the best player,\u201d Foerster said in May. \u201cI don\u2019t know if one person is going to clear-cut win the job.\u201d<\/p>\n

SECOND-YEAR JUMP<\/strong><\/p>\n

Colby showed signs in spring workouts of making the desired sophomore jump. By knowing the scheme and techniques more, he\u2019ll be playing faster inside.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re going to see a big jump in Connor Colby and he has to make a big jump,\u201d Foerster added. \u201cBecause when he stopped playing, it was not real good for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Colby was merely a seventh-round pick drafted No. 249 overall. He was thrust into action in Week 2 when Ben Bartch got hurt, and despite promising play early, Colby was removed after six starts in favor of Spencer Burford.<\/p>\n

The free agency exits of Bartch (Lions) and Burford (Raiders) open the door again at left guard, where a year ago the 49ers had to replace Aaron Banks (Packers).<\/p>\n

WILLIAMS\u2019 CAMP REGIMEN<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Williams\u2019 third contract haggle in six years is already complete, by virtue of a two-year, $50 million deal in April. Now it\u2019s a matter of how much camp a 38-year-old requires to prepare for Myles Garrett and the Rams on Sept. 10.<\/p>\n

Read more Spain wins the World Cup by beating Argentina 1-0 on Ferran Torres\u2019 goal in extra time<\/a><\/p>\n

Williams\u2019 2024 camp holdout hindered his start to the season, so he\u2019ll surely get in some work when the first-string offense is out there. But the most important sessions will be the joint practices against the Tennessee Titans (Aug. 11) and the Los Angeles Chargers (Aug. 18).<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got to be sure we get him enough work in camp that we get him to a good position,\u201d Foerster said.<\/p>\n

UNCHALLENGED STARTERS?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 49ers\u2019 other starting linemen seemingly are running unopposed: Brendel, right guard Dominic Puni and right tackle Colton McKivitz.<\/p>\n

This would be Brendel\u2019s sixth season as the 49ers\u2019 starter, coinciding with Brock Purdy\u2019s tenure. The battle to back up Brendel falls on Toth, Drake Nugent and Zakelj.<\/p>\n

Puni is entrenched at right guard for his third season, and Foerster has frowned on the idea of shifting him to the vacant left-guard spot. That would ruin a good thing, apparently, and Foerster credited Puni for not only playing through a knee injury last fall but overcoming early-career growing pains.<\/p>\n

McKivitz\u2019s stock has shot up entering his fourth year as a full-time starting right tackle; he signed a $45 million extension last September.<\/p>\n

NEW DEPTH PIECES<\/strong><\/p>\n

Aside from Jones and Toth, free agency also brought in Vederian Lowe, who started 25 games the past three years at New England.<\/p>\n

With Lowe\u2019s arrival as well as Williams\u2019 return, the 49ers weren\u2019t compelled to spend a high draft pick on a lineman, instead waiting until the fourth round for Willis and the fifth round for Enrique Cruz Jr. Both players were college tackles but only Cruz is cast in that role as a rookie.<\/p>\n

Read more Horoscopes July 20, 2026: Julianne Hough, refuse to let outside influencers take precedence<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The 49ers need to identify a new starter at left guard but otherwise enter camp with continuity on the offensive line.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4984,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4985","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n49ers’ offensive line seeks left guard — and NFC West kryptonite - Next City Digest<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4985\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"49ers’ offensive line seeks left guard — and NFC West kryptonite - Next City Digest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The 49ers need to identify a new starter at left guard but otherwise enter camp with continuity on the offensive line.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4985\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Next City Digest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-20T11:36:55+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=4985#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=4985\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/13065d40d633843429ac57d4e5c06f9b\"},\"headline\":\"49ers’ offensive line seeks left guard — and NFC West kryptonite\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-20T11:36:55+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=4985\"},\"wordCount\":679,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=4985#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/40a9474eeda67d31b08fd889a2bb06ef.webp\",\"articleSection\":[\"Sports\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=4985#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=4985\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=4985\",\"name\":\"49ers’ offensive line seeks left guard — and NFC West kryptonite - Next City Digest\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=4985#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=4985#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/40a9474eeda67d31b08fd889a2bb06ef.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-20T11:36:55+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/13065d40d633843429ac57d4e5c06f9b\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=4985#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=4985\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=4985#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/40a9474eeda67d31b08fd889a2bb06ef.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/40a9474eeda67d31b08fd889a2bb06ef.webp\",\"width\":1024,\"height\":748},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=4985#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"49ers’ offensive line seeks left guard — and NFC West kryptonite\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Next City Digest\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/13065d40d633843429ac57d4e5c06f9b\",\"name\":\"admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"admin\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?author=1\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"49ers’ offensive line seeks left guard — and NFC West kryptonite - Next City Digest","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4985","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"49ers’ offensive line seeks left guard — and NFC West kryptonite - Next City Digest","og_description":"The 49ers need to identify a new starter at left guard but otherwise enter camp with continuity on the offensive line.","og_url":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4985","og_site_name":"Next City Digest","article_published_time":"2026-07-20T11:36:55+00:00","author":"admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"admin","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4985#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4985"},"author":{"name":"admin","@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/#\/schema\/person\/13065d40d633843429ac57d4e5c06f9b"},"headline":"49ers’ offensive line seeks left guard — and NFC West kryptonite","datePublished":"2026-07-20T11:36:55+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4985"},"wordCount":679,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4985#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/40a9474eeda67d31b08fd889a2bb06ef.webp","articleSection":["Sports"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4985#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4985","url":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4985","name":"49ers’ offensive line seeks left guard — and NFC West kryptonite - Next City Digest","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4985#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4985#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/40a9474eeda67d31b08fd889a2bb06ef.webp","datePublished":"2026-07-20T11:36:55+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/#\/schema\/person\/13065d40d633843429ac57d4e5c06f9b"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4985#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4985"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4985#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/40a9474eeda67d31b08fd889a2bb06ef.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/40a9474eeda67d31b08fd889a2bb06ef.webp","width":1024,"height":748},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4985#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"49ers’ offensive line seeks left guard — and NFC West kryptonite"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/","name":"Next City Digest","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/#\/schema\/person\/13065d40d633843429ac57d4e5c06f9b","name":"admin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"admin"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/nextcitydigest.com"],"url":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?author=1"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4985","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4985"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4985\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4984"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4985"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4985"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4985"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}