The San Francisco 49ers are certainly not low on key position players heading into the 2019-20 campaign, though the up-and-coming NFC West franchise will continue to get its offensive line in place throughout the offseason. However, 49ers offensive line coach John Benton believes that Josh Garnett has the ability to win a starting job in San Francisco.
“I think you hit the nail on the head. Josh is a legitimate, 100 percent contender,” Benton recently said, via David Lombardi of The Athletic. “He’ll get every opportunity again. He’s just had such bad luck with injury. None have been too serious, but they last a legitimate amount of time. He comes back, he’s set back three weeks development-wise, he starts to get it going, but then something else happens. Thats been the M.O. so far.
“Josh has had a good offseason this year, and he’ll be given every opportunity to win a job there. One of my lines I always tell him, for what it’s worth: “It’s my job to replace everyone in this room with somebody better. Hopefully, that’s a better you.”
Of course, the team's main offensive priority is keeping starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo upright as the former New England Patriots signal caller missed a ton of time due to injury last season.
“He’s been taking reps with the ones now [with Weston Richburg out during the offseason program, Mike Person slid over to center and Garnett entered at right guard],” Benton added. “He’s a talented guy and it’s a shame he’s had to battle through these hardships. He’s one of our most explosive guys, along with the athleticism, so I would love to see Josh put together a string and make a run at winning one of those jobs.”
Unfortunately for the 49ers, it won't be easy in 2019 as the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks remain primed to pose as legitimate threats in the NFC West.
