© Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
After a few devastating injuries to Jeff Wilson Jr., Tarvarius Moore and Justin Skule, the 49ers cut short their offseason program. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said he had long planned to cancel minicamp, but that the injuries, coupled with high participation in OTAs, prompted him to cut short the program a day earlier.
Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel mentioned a few names when asked who the 49ers could have as their swing tackle, with Skule having been the 49ers’ swing tackle the last two years. Shon Coleman, Daniel Brunskill, Colton McKivitz and Jaylon Moore all got work at tackle over OTAs. Coleman tore his ACL in the 49ers’ first preseason game in 2019, and would likely have won the job if not for his injury. He opted out of the 2020 season.
In light of Skule’s injury, the 49ers are adding depth to that position. According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the 49ers are signing Senio Kelemente, who has played significant time at both guard and tackle with the Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints and Houston Texans.
The #49ers are signing veteran OL Senio Kelemete, source says. Appeared in 14 games with five starts for the #Texans last season. Versatile guy who has played guard and tackle in the past. Niners just lost backup OT Justin Skule to an ACL injury.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) June 11, 2021
Kelemente is a nine-year veteran who has played 88 career games and started 42 of those. He played all of last season at left guard for the Texans and has played the vast majority of his career as a guard. He’s more of an in-a-pinch tackle and has even played 49 snaps *technically* as a tight end in his career. His longest stretch as a tackle came in 2015 with New Orleans, when he took 68 snaps at left tackle.