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8h ago

Puni’s Preseason Injury Spurs Colby’s Rise on 49ers’ O-Line

Dominick Puni’s suspected PCL injury has sidelined him for weeks, opening the door for seventh-round rookie Connor Colby after he posted a team-leading preseason PFF grade.

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Jan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers guard Dominick Puni (77) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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Overview

  • Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that third-year guard Dominick Puni suffered a suspected PCL injury during the Raiders preseason game and will miss multiple weeks.
  • Left guard Ben Bartch remains out with an elbow issue, compounding the 49ers’ interior line depth concerns ahead of the regular season.
  • Seventh-round rookie Connor Colby earned a 77.8 overall PFF grade in the preseason opener against Denver, the highest offensive mark on the roster.
  • Coaches Kyle Shanahan and Chris Foerster praised Colby’s size, footwork and early pass-blocking prowess as key factors in his accelerated development.
  • Ongoing questions at guard and center have elevated the importance of camp performance and analytics evaluations in the 49ers’ roster decisions before Week 1.