San Francisco 49ers: Four players to watch in preseason opener

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PROVO, UT – OCTOBER 6: Alexander Mattison #22 of the Boise State Broncos is brought down by Fred Warne #4 of the Brigham Young Cougars during their game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on October 6, 2017, in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

Fred Warner, Linebacker

Fred Warner, the rookie out of BYU has been making some impactful plays during the team’s OTA’s and first training camp practices. He’s a great coverage linebacker, and the front office drafted him in the third-round to eventually pair with Reuben Foster.

Warner has been leading the second team and playing both the Will (Weak linebacker) and Mike (Middle linebacker) positions during training camp. Warner could be in line to see some time with the starting unit come the regular season given Foster’s two-game suspension to start the year.

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Warner will be competing with Brock Coyle for Foster’s (MIKE) starting job during the first two weeks with Malcolm Smith lining up at WILL.

While it’s uncertain how much of the field Warner will actually see, due to a chest injury that kept him limited during the final practices leading up to the game. But, all expectations are that Warner will see some time on the field.

Expect Warner, barring any injury setbacks, to play into the first half, perhaps replacing Malcolm Smith after a few series and play alongside Coyle and Korey Toomer.