The right guard? 49ers name unheralded Devey starter
When the 49ers acquired Jordan Devey in a trade with the Patriots two weeks ago, the offensive lineman noted it was the preferred way to leave an NFL employer.
In a mildly shocking move, head coach Jim Tomsula said Devey, 27, would assume that starting spot, despite these numbers in two preseason games since joining the 49ers: zero starts, nine snaps with the first-team offense and 32 snaps overall.
Devey (6-foot-6, 320 pounds), who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2013, made four starts at guard for New England last year (three at right guard).
In 306 snaps, he allowed one sack, three quarterback hits, nine hurries and received a -19.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.
Joe Looney, 25, started the first two preseason games at right guard, and rookie sixth-round pick Ian Silberman, 22, started against the Broncos on Saturday before Devey replaced him on the final drive of the first half.
Another option, guard Brandon Thomas, 24, is a 2014 third-round pick who didn’t play last year because of a torn ACL.
A guy that you know is going to be a really good football player and you’re trying to push him faster than he can go.
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been routinely harassed, which helps explain his stat line: 5-of-13 for 40 yards.
Part of the issue is the absence of starting center Daniel Kilgore, who will miss the season’s first six games, at a minimum, after he was placed on the physically unable to perform list Monday with an ankle injury.
After high school, the accomplished tuba player turned down several music scholarships and went on a two-year Mormon mission.
The 49ers now hope the lineman with a one-of-a-kind past can excel as their No. 1 right guard.