49ers embrace youth movement with potential influx of rookies in starting lineup

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers went into the past few training camps with one of the NFL's deepest rosters filled with established stars that left little opportunity for rookies to contribute.

That's far from the case this year as San Francisco underwent a roster reset in the offseason that has infused the team with more youth and the most opportunities for rookies to compete since 2019 when draft picks like Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel and Dre Greenlaw helped the Niners reach the Super Bowl.

That's especially true on defense, where at least five rookies are in the mix for starting roles on a unit that has been overhauled completely in the offseason.

“There’s a chance we could have six new guys starting. There’s a chance we could have eight, we’ll see how it plays out,” coach Kyle Shanahan said, referring to rookies, offseason additions and former backups. “Any time you say that, that’s different. That is a different team, that is a different side of the ball so that does take some time.”

The 49ers have had only four rookies start a season opener over the past five seasons, tied for the fifth fewest in the NFL in that span. They could match that this season with first-round pick Mykel Williams and fellow draft picks Alfred Collins, C.J. West, Nick Martin and Upton Stout all in the mix.

The Niners have started at least three rookies in a season opener just five times since the NFL-AFL merger, with the last time coming in 2006 when Vernon Davis, Manny Lawson and Melvin Oliver all got the nod. It also happened three times early in Bill Walsh’s tenure in 1980, the Super Bowl-winning season in 1981 and 1983. The most rookies to start an opener for San Francisco since the merger was four in 1978.

That's a challenge to a coaching staff that also includes a new defensive coordinator, with Robert Saleh returning after a stint as head coach of the New York Jets from 2021-24.

“With youth, the challenge is that a veteran never makes mistakes, but sometimes they might be a step slow," Saleh said. “They’re not running that 40 time that they ran back in the combine, right? Where a rookie is going to make a lot of mistakes, but he’s flat fast, and explosive. So, the trick is, how quickly can you get that football player to play like a veteran while he’s still connected to his 40 time that he ran back at the combine. So that youthful energy, that youthful explosiveness. With youth comes lumps because they’re learning.”

Saleh said even though his scheme isn't overly complex, he might need to simplify some things initially to help the young players acclimate.

The problem is the opposing offenses won't be doing the same and they will hope to confuse the rookies who aren't used to dealing with NFL offenses.

“They don’t just stand there and make it easy for us,” Saleh said. "They’re motioning, they’re moving, they’re jetting, they’re doing all kinds of stuff pre-snap. So there are going to be some moments where it’s like, oh God. But, you prick your finger, you fight through it, you get them to a point where they see it over and over and over again, and your hope is that that youthful explosiveness comes out as they continue to gain experience.”

The 49ers have liked what they have seen so far, with the young players being attentive in meetings and knowing their assignments on the field.

Shanahan said they have brought needed energy to the team starting in the offseason and the veterans have been impressed.

“I like the group,” Bosa said. “I think we have a lot of talent. I think when you look out on the field, you see NFL bodies out there that look impressive, which is a good thing. Obviously, we’re young, but I think just because nobody knows them now, if they play a good couple games, then the whole world will know them. It’ll be exciting.”

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San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Alfred Collins (95) walks on the field during practice at the team's NFL football training camp, Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) talks with defensive lineman Mykel Williams (98) during practice at the team's NFL football training camp, Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Mykel Williams (98) runs a drill during practice at the team's NFL football training camp, Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Vote counting was underway Friday in Uganda’s tense presidential election, which was held a day earlier amid an internet shutdown, voting delays and complaints by an opposition leader who said some of his polling agents had been detained by the authorities.

Opposition leader Bobi Wine said Thursday he was unable to leave his house and that his polling agents in rural areas were abducted before voting started, undermining his efforts to prevent electoral offenses such as ballot stuffing.

Wine is hoping to end President Yoweri Museveni's four-decade rule in an election during which the military was deployed and heavy security was posted outside his house near Kampala, the Ugandan capital, after the vote.

The musician-turned-politician wrote on X on Thursday that a senior party official in charge of the western region had been arrested, adding there was “massive ballot stuffing everywhere.”

Rural Uganda, especially the western part of the country, is a ruling-party stronghold, and the opposition would be disadvantaged by not having polling agents present during vote counting.

To try to improve his chances of winning, Wine had urged his supporters to “protect the vote” by having witnesses document alleged offenses at polling stations, in addition to deploying official polling agents.

Wine faced similar setbacks when he first ran for president five years ago. Museveni took 58% of the vote, while Wine got 35%, according to official results. Wine said at the time that the election had been rigged in favor of Museveni, who has spoken disparagingly of his rival.

Museveni, after voting on Thursday, said the opposition had infiltrated the 2021 election and defended the use of biometric machines as a way of securing the vote in this election.

Museveni has served the third-longest tenure of any African leader and is seeking to extend his rule into a fifth decade. The aging president’s authority has become increasingly dependent on the military, which is led by his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

Uganda has not witnessed a peaceful transfer of presidential power since independence from British colonial rule six decades ago.

Voters line up to cast their ballots at a polling station, during the presidential election, in the capital, Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Election officials count ballots after the polls closed for the presidential election at a polling station in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

An election official holds up unmarked ballots during the vote count after polls closed for the presidential election, at a polling center in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

A political representative speaks as he works to observe and verify the counting of ballots after polls closed in the presidential election at a polling station in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

A supporter of leading opposition candidate Bobi Wine cheers while watching election officials count ballots, after polls closed at a polling station in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)