49ers news: Isaac Yiadom named the starting Nickel cornerback over Renardo Green

The San Francisco 49ers had a mini-cornerback competition this training camp. All-Pro Charvarius Ward and rising star Deommodore Lenoir had the two top spots locked down, but there was an opportunity for someone to seize the nickel cornerback spot.

On Friday, defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen was asked how he envisions lining up in nickel with his defensive backs and who would be the three corners. Here’s what he said:

“Well, how we’ve been going has been how it’s started out, with Ike [Isaac Yiadom] and D-Mo and Mooney. And then we’ve been rotating guys through and getting a lot of reps with them as well. But that’s how it’s going right now, with Renardo [Green] rotating in.”

Yiadom has been in the NFL since 2018. He has experience and is fresh off a season where he performed admirably with the New Orleans Saints. Yiadom allowed only three touchdowns on 50 targets in 2023 per Next Gen Stats, surrendering a 48 percent completion percentage. His “catch rate allowed over expected was -6.6 percent, while his coverage EPA was -5.8. Those are top-tier numbers for any cornerback.

Sorensen said Green would continue to cross-train at Nickel and on the outside:

“Yeah, we’ve cross-trained him. He’s bounced around, and however we need, whatever the rep counts are. However he feels at each position, then we just get him more reps at those. That’s just how it’s been with him. Whatever he needs, we get him, so he’s prepared at both spots because he has to be.”

There’s no need to rush Green and throw him into the lineup. That’s why you go out and get a veteran like Yiadom.

As for safety, Talanoa Hufanga, Sorensen said he looks good:

“It’s been great to see him. He looks good. When I see him out there and moving around, a lot of it is just part of the process. You know, this was just the next step. Just like anybody, there are those checkmarks and benchmarks that everyone has to hit. There’s a specific plan for these guys. I think he’s just hitting that next one.

Seeing him out there and trying to watch him specifically in his individuals and some of the reps that he gets, he looks good. It’s about how does he feel, his he hitting those percentage numbers that he needs to hit with the strength [and conditioning team], all those tests that they do.”

That’s encouraging to hear about Hufanga, but it doesn’t sound like he’s checked enough boxes to suit up on Monday night, and that’s OK. He’s a player the 49ers should be cautious with and make sure he’s 120 percent healthy when he steps onto the field.