49ers shuffle the left-guard rotation as Mike Evans and Jacob Cowing return to practice

The San Francisco 49ers adjusted their offensive line approach at left guard during Saturday practice, according to a report from Yahoo Sports. Carver Willis and Connor Colby took snaps at left guard with the starters, a sign the team is still evaluating how to best stabilize the middle of the line as the preseason winds down.

The day’s rotation also included the return of wide receiver Mike Evans and rookie receiver Jacob Cowing to the practice setting, the report said. Their presence mattered because both positions are typically central to early-season rhythm work, especially after limited time together during camp and exhibition action.

San Francisco also brought in tight end Khalil Dinkins for a tryout, per the transaction wire cited by the report. Tryouts like this are often used as low-risk chances to add depth and information, particularly at tight end where training-camp usage can vary widely depending on blocking assignments and special-teams value.

The timing is notable because the report places the Dinkins tryout roughly 48 hours after a preseason opener in which three other tight ends combined for 33 to 37 snaps each. Brayden Willis, Josiah Deguara, and Hayden Rucci all saw work in that game window, giving the staff at least one recent, shared reference point for pass protection and run-game responsibilities.

In that context, the left-guard rotation reads as a broader reminder that the 49ers’ offensive front is still being built through repetition rather than assumed continuity. Left guard, in particular, is often where teams look for a consistent combination of leverage, foot speed, and call discipline, because it anchors play-side schemes and helps determine how easily the line can adjust protections.

For now, the clearest takeaway is that San Francisco is treating both the interior line and the tight end room as evaluation areas before the roster tightens. With practice patterns still shifting, watch whether the same left-guard duo continues to work with the first group in the next sessions and whether the staff’s tight end usage trends back toward the group that already logged snaps.

What to watch next is straightforward: the 49ers’ subsequent practice reports, especially any indication of whether Evans and Cowing remain available, whether Willis and Colby keep the starter snaps, and whether the tryout process at tight end leads to additional roster movement or another wave of personnel changes.