49ers rookie Renardo Green speaks out about important role in Week 1 – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

SANTA CLARA – There is a spot for rookie cornerback Renardo Green and he appears to be seizing his opportunity.

Green has built a serious reputation as a contender for a significant role in the 49ers' defense entering the 2024 NFL season as part of the team's nickel package.

He has shown significant progress on the training field, and that continued in Sunday night's warm-up game against the New Orleans Saints.

Green, a second-round draft pick from Florida State, intercepted a third-down pass from Derek Carr intended for Cedrick Wilson Jr. in the first quarter.

“I've been working hard to get better and get my one percent better every day,” Green said after the 49ers' 16-10 win over New Orleans.

“I really take things week by week. So my progress is my progress. But there's still opportunity, there's still growth. And that's what I'm striving for.”

Three weeks before the opening game, several roles are still unclear for the 49ers. San Francisco starts its regular season on Monday, September 9, against Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets at Levi's Stadium.

Green has made himself a serious candidate to lineup when the opposing team fields three or more wide receivers. It looks like Green will take over Deommodore Lenoir's role at the outside position, with Lenoir moving to the nickelback position to cover the slot receiver.

Although Green has worked both inside and outside during training camp, he said he is probably better suited to the outside cornerback position at this point.

“I did it in college: inside, outside,” Green said. “But I played mostly outside. So I would say I'm more comfortable outside. But I can do anything, so I'll be wherever the team needs me.”

Right now, it looks like the 49ers' best nickel coverage unit consists of Lenoir as the nickel back.

Last year, the 49ers played with this lineup for most of the season, bringing Ambry Thomas off the sidelines to play outside, but Thomas repeatedly struggled and was benched.

Thomas is no longer an option after suffering a broken forearm last week and is expected to miss at least half of the regular season.

Veteran cornerback Isaac Yiadom is a solid signing who could come off the sidelines and play outside. However, Yiadom has missed more than a week with an ankle injury, which has given Green the opportunity to get more time to practice, play and gain valuable experience.

Green played 32 snaps on Sunday – all at cornerback – against the Saints. He was targeted only twice.

He was the pass breakup that ripped the 49ers defense off the field. But Green also allowed a 19-yard pass to Chris Olave, who caught over 1,000 yards in each of his first two NFL seasons. Green was in such tight coverage that he allowed only 3 yards after the catch.

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