Ahead of his first season in the NFL, former Washington Huskies tackle Carver Willis appears to have won a position battle with the San Francisco 49ers.
During final cutdowns on Sunday, the NFC West organization released veteran Robert Jones, who had taken the majority of the first-team reps at left guard, clearing a spot for Willis to be named San Francisco's starter at the position as one of eight offensive linemen on the 53-man roster.
Following a slow start to the preseason after suffering a concussion, Willis made a big impression on head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Shanahan said that rookie Carver Willis was making a push at LG. Pushed Jones clear off the 53. https://t.co/ygws225xH1
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) August 30, 2026
"I think he is making a push," Shanahan said of Willis following
San Francisco's final preseason game, an 18-12 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. "We'll have to evaluate the whole half of play today. We haven't made that decision yet, but we've been putting him in a lot in practice too. We'll have to make that decision, I don't know, by Monday because of our opening game, but we'll make that decision soon and have a good idea as coaches."
Willis was one of two members of Jedd Fisch's 2025 roster to make the 53-man roster, alongside fellow fourth-round pick, cornerback Ephesians Prysock.
Willis' reward for earning a spot on the roster? A matchup with the recently unretired eight-time All-Pro and three-time Defensive Player of the Year, Aaron Donald, and the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday, September 10.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Former Washington football standout OL wins NFL position battle
