New 49ers defensive end Taco Charlton didn’t need long to make an impact. In just three days of practice the former Cowboys first-round pick is already standing out to defensive coordinator Steve Wilks at a position where a heavy competition is brewing.
Wilks after Friday’s elongated session told reporters in his press conference that Charlton started making plays right away and hasn’t stopped.
“Well, I’ll tell you this, Taco came off the plane and he just like made play after play after play the other day,” Wilks said. “And I was very impressed with that because, number one, we needed the reps, but he got in and made it seem like he had been here for a week. So, he’s still learning the defense, it still is going to take him some time, but when he’s in there he goes full speed, which I love. And most important, he’s just continued trying to work on just the fundamentals that we talk about at that position.”
Typically a defensive lineman who gets added in early August is going to be something of an afterthought where a strong camp might allow him to push for a spot on the back end of the roster.
At defensive end though San Francisco is exceedingly thin behind Nick Bosa, who still hasn’t reported for camp while he and the club work on a long-term extension. Bosa’s absence has opened the door for other DEs to get reps in and generate competition for the spot opposite the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.
Second-year DE Drake Jackson is presumed to have the inside track for that starting DE spot, but Wilks said there’s a close battle happening at a key position for San Francisco.
“I think that’s exactly what it is, it’s competition, it’s tight,” Wilks said. “And I would say this really for the whole group, and I mentioned this with the staff last night, we’re not going to see a separation or a change until we go against someone else. So, I’m excited about here in a week, I believe it is that we go up to Vegas and play the Raiders. So, we’ll see exactly where we’re at that point and hopefully guys can separate themselves.”
So far Jackson, Austin Bryant and Clelin Ferrell have been in the mix while the team sorts out the second DE spot. Charlton may not be there yet after just three days, but it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if he finds himself in the rotation vying for a starting job if his arrow continues pointing upward over the next few practices.
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