Major questions linger at position that will set tone for 49ers' defense in 2025
What has been a largely rock solid group for San Francisco since 2019 was actually a source of weakness on the 49ers' defense a season ago. Dre Greenlaw's Achilles injury in Super Bowl LVIII threw the group into flux and they never really recovered while trying to piece together a unit around him.
With Greenlaw's exit in free agency, the 49ers elected not to sign an established veteran and will instead hold a competition for the two open starting jobs. How those battles shake out and the quality of players who emerge will set the floor for the 49ers' defense in 2025.
Here are some of San Francisco's key questions at LB going into camp:
Who were the 49ers starting LBs last year?
Fred Warner started in the middle of the 49ers' front seven. His three-down running mate for most of the year was veteran De'Vondre Campbell. The third LB spot changed throughout the year with Dee Winters, Tatum Bethune and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles all getting time there. Winters led that group with 398 defensive snaps. Flannigan-Fowles played 150.
Did the 49ers lose any key LBs?
They sure did. Greenlaw leaving in free agency to join the Denver Broncos is arguably the biggest offseason loss for San Francisco. Flannigan-Fowles is also no longer with the club after spending his entire six-year career with the 49ers. His loss will be felt more on special teams than on the defensive side.
Do the 49ers have any injuries at LB?
There's nothing major to start camp. Warner is healthy after playing through an ankle fracture last year, and the rest of the group appears poised to hit the ground running when camp opens Thursday.
Who are San Francisco's starting LBs?
This is one of the top questions they'll answer in camp. Warner will take his usual Mike LB spot. The Will LB job is up for grabs between Winters and rookie third-round pick Nick Martin. The Sam LB job could go to a player like Bethune or former seventh-round pick Jalen Graham.
Which LBs are frontrunners for roster spots?
Warner will be on the roster, and Winters and Martin can both be penciled in. Bethune appears to be in line for one of those spots, and Luke Gifford has an inside track to the roster because of his special teams contributions. One name to watch will be Curtis Robinson. The team likes him and he plays a ton of special teams, but he's returning from a torn ACL and may not start the season on the active roster. We'll pencil him in to stay on the PUP list to start the year with a return at some point after Week 4.
Which LBs are on the 49ers' roster bubble?
There's a lot of uncertainty at this position, so we're going to put every LB who isn't Warner, Winters or Martin on the bubble. That includes Bethune and Gifford, along with Graham, Chazz Surratt and undrafted rookie Stone Blanton.
More 49ers: Potential starter's injury shouldn't hinder key training camp battle for 49ers
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