San Francisco 49ers Preseason: Week 4 Stock Report
One player on the San Francisco 49ers whose stock is climbing is second-year cornerback Dontae Johnson.
His stock was falling after the first preseason game against the Houston Texans. The coaching staff demoted him to the second-team defense, and against the Dallas Cowboys Week 2, he played into the fourth quarter.
But Johnson was excellent against Dallas. He intercepted a pass, broke up two and earned a plus-4.3 grade from Pro Football Focus.
Through three preseason games, Johnson has allowed a passer rating of just 12.9, per Pro Football Focus. Now he’s in the mix to start opposite cornerback Tramaine Brock. Head coach Jim Tomsula hasn’t officially named a No. 2 cornerback, but Johnson seems to be the favorite. Hopefully his stock stops fluctuating.
Here are five more stock reports for 49ers players entering Week 4 of the preseason.
Stock Up: RG Jordan Devey
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Head coach Jim Tomsula named veteran offensive lineman Jordan Devey the starting right guard Tuesday afternoon.
“We’ve seen what Jordan’s doing and where’s he’s at right now,” Tomsula said, according to a transcript from the 49ers’ public relations department (h/t the Santa Rosa Press Democrat). “He’s got the system. Love the practice tape.”
The Niners acquired Devey from the New England Patriots on August 18 in exchange for tight end Asante Cleveland. Against the Denver Broncos Week 2 of the preseason—Devey’s first game with the 49ers—he played right guard with the second- and third-team offenses and earned a plus-1.2 grade from Pro Football Focus.
This offseason, Devey is the fourth offensive lineman the Niners have tried at right guard. The other three were Marcus Martin, Brandon Thomas and Ian Silberman, and all three failed. If Devey doesn’t work out, the Niners will be out of options.
Stock Down: RG Ian Silberman
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Rookie sixth-round pick Ian Silberman is the latest offensive lineman to lose the starting job at right guard.
The Niners made him the starter the Monday after preseason game No. 2 and benched him the Tuesday after preseason game No. 3. The Silberman Era lasted eight days.
Silberman was so bad against the Denver Broncos last Saturday that he no longer seems like one of the 53 best players on the roster. He seems like a guy who needs years of strength training and development before he can contribute.
If he makes the final cut, he probably will make the team over someone better.
Stock Up: RB Mike Davis
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The Niners still are sorting who will be Carlos Hyde’s backup.
Reggie Bush will be the third-and-long back, the back the Niners use on passing downs and a receiving threat out of the backfield. He probably won’t carry the ball often on first and second down.
Hyde will receive most of those carries. But it would be nice to have a smaller, faster change-of-pace back who can give Hyde a breather and the opposing defense another look on base downs every once in a while.
Rookie fourth-round pick Mike Davis seems to be emerging as the best change-of-pace back on the team. He’s explosive, quick and violent for a smaller back. In the preseason he has carried the ball 19 times, and Pro Football Focus have given him an “elusive rating” of 64.5—a terrific rating.
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Stock Down: RB Kendall Hunter
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From 2011 to 2013, the 49ers’ change-of-pace back was Kendall Hunter. He wasn’t much of a receiver, but he was a quick outside runner and a terrific complement to Frank Gore, who was more of an inside runner.
From 2011 to 2013, Hunter averaged 4.6 yards per carry. He was an above-average running back, but he tore his ACL during training camp in 2014 and missed the ensuing season and most of training camp in 2015.
His first game back was last Saturday against the Denver Broncos, and he carried the ball seven times for only 15 yards. Pro Football Focus gave him an elusive rating of 12.2, which means he wasn’t elusive. He seemed tentative and stiff—clearly affected by his surgically repaired knee.
If he makes the final roster, he may ride the bench as the fourth-string running back.
Stock Up: RB Reggie Bush
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We haven’t yet seen how the 49ers plan on using Reggie Bush next season. He’s going to be an important receiver, but he hasn’t caught any passes during the preseason.
He played his first preseason game last Saturday against the Broncos, and he played just three snaps. The Niners gave him one handoff, and quarterback Colin Kaepernick fumbled it.
Bush scooped the fumble off the ground while avoiding a defensive tackle in the backfield, exploded around the right side and tried to hurdle cornerback Aqib Talib, who caught Bush midair and planted him on his back after a nine-yard gain.
It was a great tackle by Talib and an outstanding run by Bush, who seems explosive even at 30.
All quotations and practice observations were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
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