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The San Francisco 49ers are without a few players at OTAs due to various injuries, and one such absence has been offensive lineman Jonathan Martin. The 49ers acquired Martin earlier this offseason, and he has been working out in the Bay Area since the trade. He was taking part in the team's offseason workout program, but has been absent for part of this month due to mononucleosis. He was originally absent from everything because it was still contagious, but he was on hand for practice, just not participating on Wednesday. That would seem to indicate he is close to a return.
Through the first two days of OTAs, it's hard to tell how his absence is impacting the offensive line depth chart. According to reports from practice, the first team offensive line looked like this:
LT: Joe Staley
LG: Mike Iupati
C: Daniel Kilgore
RG: Joe Looney
RT: Adam Snyder, Ryan Seymour
Marcus Martin was reportedly working with the second team offensive line, but we don't know where Jonathan Martin would fit in with this group quiet yet. He has played offensive tackle during his brief NFL career. He and Jim Harbaugh were both asked at one point or another about him potentially moving inside on the line. It was not shot down, but neither confirmed anything.
Daniel Kilgore vs. Marcus Martin is a competition to watch on the offensive line, but the competition between some combination of Adam Snyder, Jonathan Martin, Joe Looney, Ryan Seymour, Al Netter, and Carter Bykowski is going to be fascinating to watch. It would appear there are no more than two roster spots available for that group. Adam Snyder has the most experience, while Jonathan Martin would seemingly have the most upside. Joe Looney is entering his third year with the team, and finally got a brief opportunity last year against the Rams. Seymour was signed off the Seahawks practice squad and stuck on the 53-man roster the rest of the season.
There is a lot of potential competition in that group. OTAs provide a look at the depth chart, but the competition will only advance so far without live contact work. I still think Looney and Jonathan Martin snare the two spots, but Snyder could still stick around.