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SANTA CLARA – Offensive lineman Mike Person spent his entire rookie season on the roster of the 53-player 49ers, but never played in a match.
A year later, while he was cut, he thought his career could be over.
"It was my first experience to be released and I did not know. Is that it? Said Person. "I did not know what was going to happen.
"I am able to exceed it for eight years now. I bounced a little bit. But one way or another, I found a way.
Since his debut as a seventh-round pick of the 49ers in 2011 and living with his teammate Joe Staley for two weeks during the lockout that summer to participate in Alex Smith's San Jose State-led training, Person has continued his journey .
After spending time in Indianapolis, Seattle, St. Louis, Atlanta, Kansas City and Indianapolis, he is back with the 49ers. The person had a strong training camp and is online to open the season as a starter to the right guard.
He is also back with Kyle Shanahan, who was offensive coordinator with the Falcons when Nobody started 14 games in the center in 2015.
"I understood the upcoming game book," said Person. "It was fine, I knew that once San Francisco called, there was an opportunity that I really wanted to pursue, because I loved playing for Kyle and this attack.
The person was not considered to compete for a starting job upon his arrival. But veteran Jonathan Cooper was slow to recover from a knee injury and Joshua Garnett missed a significant time in training camp with a knee condition to him. Cooper was cut and Garnett is behind Nobody in the race to start the first week against the Minnesota Vikings.
"I am a better player, both physically and mentally," said Person.
Familiarity with 'Overrated' cousins
Shanahan knows the Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins well since his meetings in Washington in 2012 and 13. But Shanahan said it meant nothing at the moment – especially with the Cousins running a new program under the direction John DeFilippo, offensive coordinator of the first year Vikings.
"I think all of these things are overrated," Shanahan said. "We do not know what system Kirk works. Kirk struggles when people do not open and there are free hitters. That's every quarter of the league. We must cover ourselves well, pursue him and disguise things rather well. Because he knows what he is doing and where he is going and that people are open in rhythm, he is as automatic as anyone.
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said Shanahan was involved in the entire team on a weekly basis but did not reveal whether this week was different from the other weeks.
"Kyle has always been involved every week," Saleh said. "Kyle is very, very good at trying to formulate a plan for the entire team, to understand what it will take as a team to win."
Battle of the Practice Squad
The 49ers signed defensive lineman Daeshon Hall with the training team and released defensive lineman Niles Scott. Hall (6-5, 265) was a third-round pick of the Carolina Panthers in the 2017 NFL Draft. He saw the action in the first game last season against the 49ers. He injured his knee in training and spent the rest of the season in an injured reserve. The Panthers left on September 1st.
This 'N' which
Defensive lineman Ronald Blair left no doubt about his place in the 49ers' lineup with his performance a week ago in the final pre-season game. It's unclear what kind of role Blair will play on regular-season game days, but he certainly has a supporter in Saleh. "I'm still joking with the staff. I always say, "If you like to win, then you love Ronnie," said Saleh. "He's just always winning. He always ends on the block. He does what he is supposed to do. It has great versatility. We love Ronnie. We love his work ethic. It represents everything we believe in. He does the work. . . Jeremiah Attaochu did not play in the last pre-season game and ended up being cut. "He made flash," Saleh said. "It always comes down to reliability and whether or not you can be available for match day." Attaochu signed with the New York Jets after the 49ers released him. . . The 49ers won Jimmy Garoppolo's three road games last season. Elvis Grbac (1995) holds the record for the quarterback club with four straight wins on the road to start his career in the 49ers. "It's kind of an environment you play against the world," Garoppolo said. "I've never played there before, but I've heard good things about the stadium. It will be a pleasant and fun environment.
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