Kyle Shanahan addressed the absence of one of the San Francisco 49ersā most promising young players in their 30-9 preseason loss to the Denver Broncos. Speaking after the game, the head coach made it clear the decision was precautionary, opting to hold the rookie out rather than risk aggravating a minor issue.
That rookie is cornerback Upton Stout, whose strong training camp has positioned him as a potential key contributor in his first NFL season. The No. 100 overall pick in the 2025 Draft is dealing with a tight calf, and the 49ers didnāt want to push him into game action too soon.
The 49ers have a lot of talent on their roster, but Stout is one of those players who joins the team with the hope of improving options at his position, where there is still plenty to explore. The front office chief even acknowledged how talented the rookie is.
John Lynch Believes Stout Is One of the Best
The 49ersā general manager, John Lynch, has been outspoken about rookie Stout. Since drafting him, Lynch has consistently praised him, even calling him one of the franchiseās best selections during his tenure. The expectations for the young player are now exceptionally high.
Lynch believes Stout has something special, a quality heās only seen in a player like Fred Warner, which is a key reason he was brought to San Francisco. The general manager sees a similarity to the veteran, adding, āThatās just what Upton is all about, he can cover really well and heās relentless with his effort.ā
In his five college years, Stout recorded a total of 166 combined tackles. His 2024 season was his most impressive in that category, with 52 tackles and 1.0 sacks per game in just 12 games with Western Kentucky. His performance over his final three seasons drew significant attention from NFL teams.
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