The unknown at the center of it all
Lineman Brendel, who’s been with 5 teams, may be Mack replacement
Pro Bowl center Alex Mack recently retired, the San Francisco 49ers didn't draft his potential replacement in April, and head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated Tuesday they aren't poised to sign a veteran to fill the void.
So who will be the man in the middle? The strong favorite, based on Shanahan's comments Tuesday on the center situation: Jake Brendel, 29, a well-traveled 2016 undrafted free agent with three career starts who has been taking first-team snaps during offseason practices.
“He's been better than advertised,” Shanahan said. “… I think he's ready for his opportunity.”
Shanahan indicated the belief in Brendel is a reason the team isn't ready to sign a veteran from the free-agent market. Former Cleveland center JC Tretter, who has 90 career starts, headlines the list of outside options.
“We've been looking at all situations,” Shanahan said, “and right now, we feel like we're doing the best one for us.”
Shanahan noted Brendel is competing for the job. Right guard Daniel Brunskill, who has center experience and has been sidelined by knee tendinitis during offseason practices, could compete for the spot. The 49ers also signed undrafted rookie Dohnovan West, who was widely projected to be a later-round draft pick.
Brendel has spent time with five teams and made an impression on 49ers offensive line coach Chris Foerster when they were both with the Dolphins (2016-17). Based on Foerster's recommendation, the 49ers signed Brendel in 2020, but he opted out of the season because of the pandemic. Brendel returned to the 49ers last year and backed up Mack, who didn't miss a start.
“If Mack would have ever missed a game, we wouldn't have hesitated,” Shanahan said. “And we would have gone into that game very confident” with Brendel.
No business: All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams said he made a mistake by playing with a high ankle sprain in the 49ers' loss to the Rams in the NFC Championship Game in January.
“I really had no business out there,” Williams said. “Looking back on it, I probably shouldn't have pushed it that far. I feel like (backup) Colton (McKivitz) would have done better on two healthy ankles than I did on one. And hindsight's 20-20, of course. It was hard for me to tell my teammates ‘no' at the time.”
Williams termed it the most severe injury he's played through in his 11-season career. His ankle was fully healed, he said, around late April.
Warner setting pace at Sonoma: All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner will serve as the honorary pace-car driver for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 on Sunday at Sonoma Raceway, leading the 40-car field to the green flag. Last year, Shanahan served as the race's grand marshal.
“I can't wait to do this,” Warner said. “I've always enjoyed NASCAR, and to get the opportunity to lead the field around an awesome raceway like Sonoma is going to be one of the highlights of my life.”