Fooch’s update: Some notable news from the Thursday practice following John Lynch’s comments. Joshua Garnett got work with the first team offensive line, according to Eric Branch. Jonathan Cooper is working with the second team, and is expected to play on Saturday, according to Kyle Shanahan. Mike Person had been handling first team right guard work through the first three weeks of training camp, but he was moved to second team center for Thursday’s practice.
The San Francisco 49ers right guard competition has an added competitor this week with the return of Joshua Garnett. The 49ers third year guard had been dealing with a knee issue, but is back at full team drills this week. Heading into the team’s second joint practice with the Houston Texans, Garnett has been getting second team right guard work behind Mike Person.
General manager John Lynch chatted with 49ers.com reporter Joe Fann at the start of Thursday’s joint session, and he offered an update on the right guard competition. Person remains atop the depth chart for the time being, with Garnett and Erik Magnuson both getting work. Lynch complimented Magnuson on his work, although it is worth noting the 49ers are also working him at center.
Lynch noted that Jonathan Cooper is still working his way back from his own knee injury. Cooper had surgery on his MCL in January, and has been rehabbing back from it. He is getting some individual work to get his legs under him, but has yet to join team drills. Lynch said Cooper is getting his legs underneath him more each day.
It seems safe to say that Cooper will not be playing on Saturday against Houston. Person and the rest of the first team should see plenty of work on Saturday, but I have to think Garnett gets a sizable chunk of snaps with the second team — and maybe he gets some time rotating with the ones. If we see anything other than Person with the ones and Garnett with the twos, it will give us something to chew on heading into the third week of the preseason.