The San Francisco 49ers face mounting uncertainty at left guard as training camp progresses, with early frontrunner Connor Colby struggling against competition from veteran Robert Jones. Insider assessments suggest the position battle is not developing as hoped, with Colby falling down the depth chart despite being the presumed starter entering camp.
Jones, a former Miami Dolphin who started 30 games across four seasons, was signed as a one-year option to provide immediate stability. However, he is returning from a neck injury that sidelined him throughout 2025 and has not performed impressively in recent practices. Meanwhile, Colby, a seventh-round pick from Iowa with college starting experience and All-Big Ten honors, has been relegated primarily to second and third-team reps. A third candidate, rookie Carver Willis, is also in the mix.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged Wednesday that the competition remains open and unsettled. The left guard vacancy is particularly concerning for an otherwise stable offensive line that features All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams and center Jake Brendel. Without a clear standout performer emerging, this position represents the weakest link in the unit heading into the preseason.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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