LAS VEGAS – Spencer Burford was the last 49ers player Saturday to leave their Allegiant Stadium locker room, and there was one last question to be asked.
“It’s two years ago, bro,” Burford said of the 49ers’ Super Bowl loss here. “It’s a bittersweet feeling, because you’re playing the same game in the same stadium. It brings back happy and sad memories. But it’s part of the game.”
Burford, indeed, has no time to dwell on a blocking gaffe in overtime of that loss to Kansas City. It came with him as a substitute right guard. Ironically, that position is suddenly a concern for this coming season’s 49ers team.
Dominick Puni sustained a knee injury on the first series of Saturday’s game and could need a few weeks to recover from a posterior cruciate ligament issue, as initially diagnosed.
Burford started last year’s training camp as the first-string right guard, but a broken right hand quickly shelved him, and it thrust Puni into the starting role he would occupy for all but one snap his rookie season.
With Puni entrenched there, Burford has spent this entire offseason and training camp converting back to left tackle, where he played at Texas-San Antonio and where the 49ers need someone to replace Jaylon Moore as three-time All Pro Trent Williams’ understudy.
“If I get moved back in, bro, I’m just going to have to adjust for whatever’s thrown at me, change my mindset, study more at that position,” Burford said. “But I’ll be straight.”
Not only is Puni hurt but Ben Bartch, the projected starter at left guard, sustained an elbow injury in practice last week. Rookie Connor Colby, a seventh-round pick out of Iowa, started at left guard Saturday night while Burford lined up next to him in place of Williams.
Nick Zakelj came in for Puni and later moonlighted as a backup center as the 49ers gauge his versatility. Rookie Drew Moss is a raw option.
Jon Feliciano, who unseated Burford as the starting right guard in 2023, did not play last season because of a knee injury, and he announced his retirement six months ago.
Coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged Burford’s versatility as camp opened, saying: “We’re starting him out working to try to get that swing tackle spot. We also know he can hop right in at guard and play because he started there for us in our ’23 season with Feliciano.”
Burford has had mixed results the past month.
Tight end George Kittle came to his defense after Thursday’s joint practice with the Raiders, saying: “It’s hard because you put in another tackle it’s like, `Oh, it’s not Trent Williams.’ I still think Spence is doing a good job and these reps are invaluable to him for him to get better so if anything does happen he’ll be ready to go.”
Burford indeed appears their best backup tackle. Austen Pleasants has worked as Colton McKivitz’s backup at right tackle and struggled Saturday. Andre Dillard went on season-ending Injured Reserve last week only days after his camp debut, unable to conquer an ankle issue.
Saturday marked an encouraging effort by Burford, such as his ability to fend off Malcolm Koonce’s pass rush (and hands to the face) so Brock Purdy could complete a third-and-long pass to Ricky Pearsall. Jeff Wilson Jr. later followed Burford’s block across the goal line for a 1-yard touchdown run. But in the third quarter, Burford committed a false-start penalty that foiled a fourth-and-goal call from the 3-yard line and the 49ers settled for a 26-yard field goal from Jake Moody.
Burford said of his transition to tackle: “It’s just like putting on training wheels again, getting into the regular flow and motion. At tackle, there’s a lot more space and you can manipulate a lot more things. I’m just trying to stack off the reps I’ve been given and make sure I capitalize on every moment against good competition.”