Moore rapidly making his case to start at safety
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Tarvarius Moore might be even faster than advertised: Look at how far he’s traveled in just over two weeks.
On Friday, after the 49ers free safety had another interception in a joint practice against the Broncos, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh struck a different note when asked if Moore — with three picks in his past two practices — could be the team’s seasonopening starter with presumptive starter Jimmie Ward still sidelined.
“It’s definitely something to talk about,” Saleh said. “Tarvarius, you know, he had the door open, but we always talk about if you get your foot in the door, it’s your job to blow that thing open. He’s doing a good job. He’s going to make it very difficult.”
Saleh said Moore had made “tremendous strides” and that was reflected in Saleh’s comments. On July 30, Saleh said Moore was “by no means close to being an NFLready safety by Week 1.”
There was no question about Moore’s physical ability. The 2018 thirdround pick from Southern Miss vaulted up draft boards after he ran a 4.32second 40yard dash at his pro day. However, after playing free safety in college, the 49ers moved Moore to cornerback as a rookie. He was moved to free safety in May after Ward sustained a broken collarbone.
“I think that’s his natural position,” cornerback Richard Sherman said. “I think he does incredibly well with space . ... He has a great feel, and the ball just seems to find him.” Injury report: Starting right guard Mike Person was observed by the Athletic’s Matt Barrows on crutches with a walking boot on his left foot after practice. The 49ers did not provide information on Person’s injury.
Person’s injury is the latest for a bangedup offensive line. Starting center Weston Richburg (knee) remains on the physically unable to perform list, primary backup tackle Shon Coleman (leg) was placed on seasonending injured reserve Monday, and Person’s primary backup, Joshua Garnett, remains sidelined after undergoing finger surgery early in training camp.
The top available backup guard is Najee Toran, a 2018 undrafted free agent.
In other injury news, running back Matt Breida (undisclosed) was held out of team drills, and tight end George Kittle (calf tightness) remained sidelined. Transaction: The 49ers signed cornerback Quinten Rollins and waived cornerback Greg Mabin, who sustained a calf injury in practice Wednesday.
Rollins, a 2015 secondround pick of the Packers, played in 33 games (15 starts) with Green Bay from 201517 and had three interceptions. The Packers released Rollins with an injury settlement last year after he sustained a hamstring injury in the preseason. He spent three weeks with the Cardinals, who released him in December.
On Friday, Rollins wore a jersey without his name on the back in his first practice. And that explains the reaction of a few of his new teammates after he broke up a pass.
Said Saleh: “A couple of guys we’re like ‘Hey, new guy!’ ”