San Francisco 49ers Preseason: Week 3 Stock Report

The San Francisco 49ers are still waiting for quarterback Colin Kaepernick to sync up with wide receiver Torrey Smith.

Smith was the 49ers’ big addition in the offseason—they gave him a five-year, $40 million contract to be a deep threat and contribute right away. But he has made only 11 catches on passes thrown by Kaepernick during 11-on-11 drills in training camp, and none of those 11 catches was deep.

Smith and Kaepernick still haven’t connected downfield during team drills in training camp or the preseason. And they didn’t connect Tuesday afternoon during practice. Why? Because Smith’s knee was sore. He didn’t participate during team drills.

The Smith-Kaepernick connection is on hold.

Here are the stock reports for five more 49ers entering Week 3 of the preseason.

Stock Up: RB Kendall Hunter

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After the first two weeks of the preseason, it seemed that Kendall Hunter was one of the veterans the 49ers might end up cutting before the regular season.

Hunter didn’t play in the first two preseason games. Last year, he tore his ACL during training camp and missed the entire 2014 season. He didn’t participate much in the offseason, either, and when he did participate, he wore a big, bulky brace on his surgically repaired knee.

It was fair to wonder about his future, or lack of one, with the team.

The 49ers finally unleashed Hunter on Tuesday during practice, and he led all members of the first-team offense with five touches. And he looked healthy. It seems that the Niners were resting Hunter earlier in the offseason and are now preparing him for a significant role during the regular season.

Stock Down: ILB Nick Moody

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Nick Moody had three weeks to make a case that he should start next to NaVorro Bowman at inside linebacker.

The presumptive starter, Michael Wilhoite, missed the beginning of training camp because of a muscle strain. He is not a special player. Last season, Pro Football Focus gave him a minus-5.6 grade. The Niners would welcome an upgrade.

Throughout the first few weeks of training camp, Moody seemed like an upgrade. He intercepted Kaepernick twice and seemed to be around the ball frequently.

During the first two preseason games, he struggled against the pass, giving up four catches, per Pro Football Focus, though he earned a plus-1.9 grade against the run.

The Niners must not have been impressed. Wilhoite returned to practice Tuesday afternoon, and Moody returned to the bench—tough break.

Stock Up: CB Kenneth Acker

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Second-year cornerback Kenneth Acker is one of the few players on the team whose stock has steadily risen throughout the offseason.

Acker missed his rookie season after suffering a broken foot, so when the offseason began, he was at the bottom of the depth chart.

First, he played with the third-team defense during minicamp and OTAs. Then he played with the second-team defense in the first game of the preseason. Then the 49ers promoted him to the first-team defense for the second preseason game—he was the No. 3 cornerback. He played left cornerback in the sub-packages.

Apparently, he played well enough to earn another promotion. During practice Tuesday, he played right cornerback in the base defense and the sub-packages. He was the No. 2 corner opposite Tramaine Brock.

Stock Down: C Joe Looney

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Joe Looney is entering his fourth season in the NFL. In his first three seasons, he started just four games in total. If he doesn’t show something soon, next season may be his last.

As a veteran courtesy, the 49ers made Looney the starting center when the offseason began—someone had to fill in while Daniel Kilgore rehabbed a broken ankle.

Looney held on to the starting job through minicamp, OTAs, the first three weeks of training camp and the first two weeks of the preseason. But it seems that someone has finally taken the job from him.

Marcus Martin was the starting center during Tuesday’s practice, and rookie sixth-round pick Ian Silberman was the starting right guard. It seems that Looney will start the season on the bench, and when Kilgore returns, the team may cut Looney.

Stock Up: G Ian Silberman

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After the Niners demoted Looney and moved Martin from right guard to center, the team had to promote someone to the starting lineup.

That someone seems to be Silberman. He played right guard with the second-team offense during Sunday’s preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys, and he played right guard with the first-team offense during Tuesday’s practice.

Pro Football Focus gave Silberman a plus-1.8 run-blocking grade for the first two preseason games. He seems like a quality zone blocker who might be able to hold his own until Kilgore returns and Martin moves back to right guard.

All quotations and practice observations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

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