SANTA CLARA — A front runner has emerged at the 49ers’ lone position without a clear-cut starter.
After San Francisco’s practice Tuesday afternoon, head coach Kyle Shanahan said the right guard spot is Mike Person’s to lose. Person has participated since the beginning of training camp, started all three preseason games, and been reliable throughout the past month.
“Josh (Garnett) could beat him out, but Person has been the most consistent since day one, has had a real good camp,” Shanahan said Tuesday. “We will see what happens these next few days.”
Person’s closest competitor is Garnett, who missed nearly two weeks of practice with a knee injury. He returned about two weeks ago and has steadily increased his workload, including in each of the two recent preseason games at Houston and Indianapolis. Garnett cycled in with the first team after Person started each contest. Garnett flashed his talent in both pass protection and run blocking, moving into the second level and finishing blocks with authority.
“Josh (Garnett) definitely helped himself out last week,” Shanahan said.
Jonathan Cooper, whom the 49ers signed to a one-year deal in March, is the third contestant for the starting right guard spot. The former Dallas Cowboys guard has worked minimally with the 49ers starters, however, deeming the current starting job as a two-man race. Reserve Erik Magnuson suffered a hamstring injury in the second preseason game and is expected to miss the first several weeks of the season.
In many regards, Person and Garnett are antitheses.
Person, 30, is a journeyman whom Shanahan trusts. He spent nearly eight months with the Atlanta Falcons when Shanahan was their offensive coordinator. Since Person was drafted in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL Draft, he has played with six teams and is on his second stint with the 49ers. He has not played more than one season with a single team. He has started just 18 career games, all of which came at center. Last year, however, he impressed in four starts, earning Pro Football Focus’ third-highest ranking in pass-blocking efficiency for all centers, allowing just three quarterback pressures in 194 attempts.
Garnett, conversely, is San Francisco’s 2016 first-round pick with untapped potential. He started 11 games at guard his rookie season, but he struggled for the most part. His 2017 season ended before it really began when Shanahan delegated Garnett to the injured reserve prior to Week 1. He was surprised, thinking the injury was not serious enough to sideline him the whole year, but the 49ers coaching staff challenged him to improve his physical condition entering his third year. Garnett lost about 20 pounds this offseason, and the results have been noticeable.
Person may not jump off the screen like his younger counterpart, but he has done what is necessary to earn the starting job with 12 days remaining until the opener. Shanahan is still searching for consistency with Garnett, who will play in San Francisco’s preseason finale with the Los Angeles Chargers Thursday evening.
“I am glad we have another game to watch him,” Shanahan said.
Shanahan has not yet decided whether Person will play Thursday, speaking to his status as the frontrunner.
