Developmental unit has been a lifeblood for 49ers
The John Lynch/Kyle Shanahan 49ers have done an outstanding job of developing young players through their practice squad, which has turned out to be a virtual lifeblood for a team that has struggled through a steady stream of injuries since the new regime arrived in 2017.
That was particularly evident last year, when eight of the 10 players on San Francisco’s season-opening practice squad eventually were promoted to the 53-man roster, with several of them playing significant roles down the stretch to help the 49ers win two of the final four games, including two as starters.
In all, the 49ers had three graduates from their practice squad in the starting lineup for San Francisco’s season finale last year against the Rams in Los Angeles. Four practice-squad graduates — including quarterback Nick Mullens and running back/special teams ace Raheem Mostert, two key players on the team’s depth chart — began the regular season on the San Francisco roster.
A full host of 14 players that spent time on San Francisco’s practice squad in 2018 ultimately played in at least one game for the team during the season, meaning there’s a good chance the practice squad the 49ers assembled this September could ultimately impact the 2019 season.
With that in mind, here’s a rundown on San Francisco’s practice squad to open this season, how they got there and how they might help the team at some point this season and beyond.
RB JEFF WILSON JR.
This story is from the October 2019 edition of Niner Report.
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This story is from the October 2019 edition of Niner Report.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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Fred Warner vaulted to stardom with a spectacular 2020 season — and the 49ers rewarded him this summer with a $95.225 million deal that makes him the highest-paid inside linebacker in NFL history. By today’s standards, Warner’s performance last year was worth the money as he posted an Approximate Value of 19 — matching the highest score ever recorded by a San Francisco defender according to a Pro Football Reference formula that puts a single number on each player-season across all positions since 1960. Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman (twice) also had seasons with an AV of 19 as they dominate this list of the greatest individual seasons by a linebacker in 49ers history.
