The 49ers’ New Starting Nickelback: Samuel Womack III
Aug 16, 2022, 12:22 PM | Updated: 1:13 pm
SANTA CLARA, CA - AUGUST 12: Samuel Womack III #26 of the San Francisco 49ers returns an interception during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium on August 12, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers defeated the Packers 28-21. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
Following the teamβs first preseason win over the Green Bay Packers Friday night, the San Francisco 49ers only took one day off before hitting the practice field Sunday and Monday.
The Bay Area team got some light work in over the previous two days, as injuries have already started to set in for this squad. Starting cornerbacks Emmanuel Moseley and Charvarius Ward have been out for a week or so due to different leg strains, defensive lineman Arik Armstead is out due to a MCL sprain, and now starting safety Jimmie Ward could miss week 1 of the regular season due to a hamstring strain.
“Yeah, it was a pretty bad hamstring injury and it’s not like the other two guys, so we’ll see over here over the next couple weeks how it plays out,β head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday. With key players out in the secondary, prospects and rookies have gotten a bigger opportunity in training camp, and the preseason, to show what they are all about. None have had a bigger impact than rookie CB Samuel Womack III.
How Samuel Womack III Has Stood Out
Womack, a fourth-round pick from Toledo in the 2022 NFL draft, was lights out in his first preseason game against the Packers, coming up with two huge interceptions off second-string QB Jordan Love.
The first came against WR Romeo Doubs on an out route, fighting with the receiver until he muscled the ball away for the pick. The initial call was ruled a completed catch, but upon further review, officials determined the rookie corner snatched the ball away.
Did #49ers rookie DB Samuel Womack come away with this?! pic.twitter.com/DJ1qNEw7X9
— ππππππππ£ππ§π¨ (@TheSFNiners) August 13, 2022
The second showcased his ball-hawking abilities once more, pressing WR Amari Rodgers at the line of scrimmage before watching his and Love’s eyes to undercut the pass and return it for 50-plus yards.
Thatβs TWO INTβS for rookie DB Samuel Womack π€² pic.twitter.com/Jum3Z7SjuY
— ππππππππ£ππ§π¨ (@TheSFNiners) August 13, 2022
Yes, it’s only preseason but the individual performance turned a few heads among the NFL’s elite, including Tyreke Hill.
26 from the niners nice ππΏ
— Ty Hill (@cheetah) August 13, 2022
The former Rocket still has a lot to learn before the team’s first regular-season game in Chicago, but the early returns have been outstanding thus far.
βIβve just been getting used to recognizing the plays and recognizing whatβs coming at me and the speed and the different routes,” Womack said postgame Friday. “The routes are more complex, what they do at the top of the route, how they run their routes is more deceptive for sure and Iβve just been getting ready and getting used to that every day and just trying to get better at that.β
βHe’s doing a good job. He is definitely a candidate. He’s got a chance to earn that spot and from what it looked like just out there live, it looked like he didn’t hurt himself,β Shanahan said about his rookie corner.
The starting slot corner position was taken by Darqueze Dennard on the team’s first depth chart of camp last week, but the coaching staff reiterated over the weekend that spots are still up for grabs.
“Everybody is competing. And that’s everywhere, every position,” defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans said Sunday. “Everybody is competing for a starting job. And everybody, like I said earlier, guys have to show us. They have to earn the right to go out there with our group. And everybody is in that same boat.”
And it seems Womack has earned that right after the 49ers cut Dennard Monday.
Wow βΒ the 49ers released Darqueze Dennard. They were clearly blown away by Samuel Womack's preseason debut
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) August 15, 2022
Obviously a vote of confidence by the organization, the fourth-round pick will still need to work hard each and every day, to maintain his place for week 1 consideration.
“He was exactly where he needs to be. And a smart player making really big time plays for us,” Ryans stated. “Womack, he has to continue, he’s another guy who just has to continue to improve off of what he’s done. Made two good plays, but he has to continue to improve his technique and everything that we ask him to do, he has to continue to get better and excel at all of those things.β
