CAPTAIN SANTA CLARA: Over the previous two seasons, San Francisco 49ers defensive back George Odum has led the NFL in special teams tackles while he has been healthy. In 21 games, he has accrued 32 of them. However, Odum has not had much opportunity to play defense with the 49ers. In each of the previous two seasons, he has only played 38 plays at safety, primarily in mop-up roles.
By 2024, that may have changed. After the first twelve practices of this training camp, there has been a noticeable change. As Talanoa Hufanga continues to recuperate from his ACL tear sustained in the previous season, Odum and J’Ayir Brown have emerged as the 49ers’ starting safety duo. Tashaun Gipson Sr. is no longer with the team.
This camp, Odum has intercepted a few passes; during Wednesday’s demanding practice, he added two more to his total. Brock Purdy was the starting quarterback for both picks. Jordan Mason, the running back, was the target of one pass. The other was intended for Deebo Samuel Sr., the receiver. Odum was in a terrific position to pounce after both missed high. The first one he returned for a potential touchdown. Odum reminded his teammates of both selections by trotting back to the bench after the second one, both fingers in the air.
The 49ers anticipate that Hufanga will be back in time for their combined practices with the New Orleans Saints on August 15 and 16, but they are more at ease with that possible timeline due to the high caliber of their safety performance throughout summer camp.
There is no urgency, and head coach Kyle Shanahan has no issues with Odum spending more time at safety during a game, even if it means he can not concentrate as much on special teams.
“George is one of the best special teams players in the league, but if he’s the right guy at safety and he gives us the best chance when at safety, you never confuse those two,” Shanahan said last week. “You’ve got to go there first. You don’t want that to fully take away his role in special teams. So when you’re that special of a player, we’re going to try to find a way to put him on both.”
This camp, Brown has also performed admirably and produced a couple of his own interceptions. Additionally, Wake Forest native Malik Mustapha, a fourth-round draft selection, has shown enough promise to give the 49ers hope that he will be able to contribute to the second team at some point this season.
A few months ago, the 49ers appeared quite interested in adding a veteran safety, as things at the position seemed increasingly precarious. It has been claimed that they welcomed free agents Rayshawn Jenkins and Julian Blackmon at the facility. Jenkins later claimed that the 49ers extended a contract offer to him, but he ultimately signed with the Seattle Seahawks. Blackmon reaffirmed his Colts contract.
However, since then, Odum has delivered in camp, Mustapha joined the club through the draft, and Hufanga’s recuperation has gone according to plan. The position does not need to be strengthened urgently anymore.
George Odum on Malik Mustapha, a 49ers rookie who has shown promise:
“Go watch his highlights. I watched ’em last night.”
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) August 3, 2024
In fact, Odum began a few games at safety with the Indianapolis Colts, who signed him in 2018 as an undrafted free agent. Odum has only seen substantial playing time on special teams since signing with the 49ers in 2022. He has had to spend almost all of his time at practice with DB.
“I’m patiently doing it every day,” Odum said last week. “The system is getting easier for me. I’m not making mistakes or anything, communicating more with Tig (that’s Brown’s nickname). Watching Hufanga the past two years, every time a call comes in, I pick it up from him.”
On Wednesday, according to defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen, Odum corrected an error he had made earlier in the week. His misalignment had given the 49ers offense an explosive play. As the last line of defense, that is the biggest no-no for the safety position.
However, trust blooms when such errors are corrected, and Odum made this erasure on Wednesday. That is the secret to playing time, and Odum wants to get more of it.
“He made a correction today about being in the post,” Sorensen said. “That was cool to see in that it’s not just the ability, it’s the comfort and the ability to still go and make the play.”
Odds & ends
• The greatest number of players of the week missed the practice on Wednesday. Mitch Wishnowsky, the punter, did not participate in any other way but held kicks for Jake Moody due to a knee irritation. The following players were sidelined: linebacker Fred Warner (foot irritation), tight end Logan Thomas (hamstring strain), receiver Ricky Pearsall (shoulder), offensive lineman Spencer Burford (broken hand), and running backs Christian McCaffrey (calf strain), Elijah Mitchell (hamstring strain), and Isaac Guerendo (hamstring strain).
Warner said that his foot issue is “nothing major at all.” Running back Patrick Taylor Jr., linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, offensive lineman Jon Feliciano, defensive end Sam Okuayinonu and defensive tackle Jordan Elliott all missed practice for undisclosed reasons.
• Terique Owens, the rookie wide receiver and son of Hall of Fame wideout Terrell Owens, was cut by the 49ers due to an injury designation. Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network reports that Owens will be sidelined for several weeks due to a minor fracture in his right hand. Although Owens is still a raw talent, he began to show promise last week at camp with two long touchdowns among other big plays.
Erik Harris, the 49ers’ seasoned safety, was also released. To fill the two free roster spots, they signed running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn and receiver Jontre Kirklin. The 49ers have needed running back depth with McCaffrey, Mitchell, and Guerendo all sidelined going into their preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans on Saturday. Along for the ride are Vaughn and Matt Breida, who is currently on his second stint with the 49ers.
• Deebo, the wide receiver Samuel stated that this is the lightest he has been since joining the NFL in 2019 but he would not disclose his precise weight. Samuel most recently visited the camp in 2021. That season, Samuel was dubbed “thin Deebo” by coaches and players, a reference to his excellent physical condition. He proceeded to have an All-Pro campaign.
Samuel has excelled during the first two weeks of this 2024 training camp.
(Photo of George Odum: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images)
