- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,203,527
- Reaction score
- 59
You must be registered for see images attach
During the NFL offseason, fans and media around the league finally get the opportunity to see how teams will operate in the upcoming season. That process starts during each team’s training camp.
All NFL players will report to training camp by July 28. The stretch of practices will lead right into the Hall of Fame Game and preseason.
The San Francisco 49ers will be one of the more interesting teams to watch during training camp due to their roster changes, including rookies, veterans and coaching changes. There is also an overall fire brewing within the franchise due to how the last postseason ended.
With that said, the NFL media and 49ers fans will be looking very closely at these specific players during the much-anticipated 2026 training camp.
What Does Mike Evans Bring to 49ers Receiving Core?
Perhaps the biggest offseason move San Francisco made was signing longtime Tampa Bay veteran wide receiver Mike Evanson March 12.
The 49ers have been in need of a leader at wide receiver since Deebo Samuel‘s departure in 2025. Moreover, there is all of the drama that Brandon Aiyuk is dealing with.
Evans did have career-altering injuries last season, including a hamstring injury, a collarbone injury, and a concussion, which sidelined him for a total of nine games.
However, Evans is already opening eyes from San Francisco OTA’s. Teammates like George Kittle are telling the media, “I think he takes ball seriously. That kind of sets the tone for the wide receiver room, especially when we have a bunch of young guys in there.”
During training camp, all eyes will be on the new wide receiver and how he fits into Kyle Shanahan system. Also, Mike Evans himself said, “I’m feeling really fresh, I’m feeling rejuvenated, and I’m in a new spot—a change I felt I needed.”
Is Upton Stout Ready to Break Out?
During the 2025 season, cornerback Upton Stout proved to be a young star in the making for San Francisco. He paired with Deommodore Lenoir to make one of the better secondary duos in the NFL.
Stout put up impressive numbers as the third-option cornerback. He had 82 total tackles, one sack, five passes defended, and one forced fumble.
Many in the media believe Upton Stout to be a breakout candidate. Not just out of the defensive unit, but out of the whole team.
He’s been getting huge praise from Lenoir who, when talking about his rookie season, said, “[The rookies] showed up in big games, made plays, and they played very dominant, especially Upton Stout. I gotta give credit to him.”
Lenoir goes on to say, “To me, playing the nickel position, I know how hard it gets when you have a run assignment and a pass assignment. So, just knowing what he had to go through, every snap, I just take my hat off to him.”
As far as the defensive side of things goes for the 49ers, many eyes across the NFL will be on the young Upton Stout. People are expecting him to make an even bigger jump in the 2026 season.
De’Zhaun Stribling
During the 2026 NFL Draft, the 49ers ended up selecting De’Zhaun Stribling with the 33rd overall pick. This was analyzed by some in the media as a reach.
This will bring some extra attention to Stribling during training camp. Not only the media, but also the fans are now wondering if Stribling was really worth the pick. They also wonder if he can provide for San Francisco.
However, 49er Faithful should remember that during Stribling’s last year in college, he managed to haul in a total of 55 receptions, 811 yards, and six touchdowns. He did this all while averaging 14.7 yards per reception.
With Stribling and Evans being the replacements for long time San Francisco receivers Samuel and Aiyuk, all eyes will be on them.
Mykel Williams
In the 2025 NFL draft, the 49ers selected Mykel Williams with the 11th overall pick in hopes of being a replacement for longtime former defensive linemen Arik Armstead.
Unfortunately for Williams, he only managed to play a total of nine games his rookie season due to a torn ACL during the Week 9 game against the New York Giants.
In those nine games played, Williams was only able to manage to record a total of 20 tackles and one sack, which many believed was a huge disappointment, especially from a player who was drafted 11th overall.
With Williams now almost fully healthy for the 2026 season, many think he will finally live up to his high expectations and play a key role in this new Raheem Morris defensive look, which could help improve his play moving forward.
The post Who Are the Players to Watch During 49ers Training Camp? appeared first on The Lead.
Continue reading...
