{"id":71027,"date":"2025-07-25T01:27:23","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T01:27:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=71027"},"modified":"2025-07-25T01:27:23","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T01:27:23","slug":"why-49ers-including-fred-warner-think-dee-winters-is-ready-to-take-that-next-step","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=71027","title":{"rendered":"Why 49ers \u2014 including Fred Warner \u2014 think Dee Winters is \u2018ready to take that next step\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

SANTA CLARA, Calif. \u2014<\/strong> The San Francisco 49ers drafted linebacker Nick Martin in the third round in April, seemingly to replace Dre Greenlaw. But it was obvious back in offseason workouts that third-year veteran Dee Winters had something to say about that and his actions have spoken loudly the first two days of training camp.<\/p>\n

Winters had a lightning-fast interception, jumping a slant route against Brock Purdy on Tuesday, and he continued to read the offense well and explode to the ball and its carriers on Wednesday. Granted, pads don\u2019t go on until Monday, but one of the best linebackers in the league is impressed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve seen a lot of growth, honestly,\u201d teammate Fred Warner said. \u201cI\u2019ve seen a guy who\u2019s ready to take that next step. You know, Dee has flashed in a big way through his first two seasons. And I think Year 3 is that year where it\u2019s like, \u2018Man, I know the system. I know what I needed to do in the offseason. And now it\u2019s time for me to take control and really put it on tape.\u2019 I\u2019m excited for Dee, really.\u201d<\/p>\n

Winters said he has followed Warner\u2019s example on and off the field, and agreed that this is his time.<\/p>\n

\u201cNutrition was a huge transformation for me when I got here,\u201d Winters said after practice on Wednesday. \u201cJust seeing guys like Fred, you know, he always talked about being a pro and the first thing he said was \u2018take care of your body.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

The 5-foot-11 Winters has actually lost a few pounds from his college weight of 227, but has a lot more muscle now.<\/p>\n

As far as Greenlaw, it may not seem like the greatest pep talk in the world, but it meant a lot to Winters when the veteran pulled him aside at the end of last season.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe told me, \u2018Hey, let\u2019s go do it,\u2019 and that kind of motivated me to, you know, take this year very seriously and take advantage of this opportunity,\u201d Winters said.<\/p>\n

Greenlaw wound up only playing two games last year after coming back from a torn Achilles, and the 49ers hoped to bring the free agent back before he signed with the Denver Broncos. He is a hard player to replace, but coach Kyle Shanahan liked what he has seen from Winters so far \u2014 after he was slowed last year by a concussion and ankle and neck injuries (but still played in 15 games).<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought he had a hell of an (offseason), showed that he was capable of doing this, and we just want to see him continually get better at it, be consistent,\u201d Shanahan said. \u201cHopefully, he has good luck of avoiding any injuries. But Dee\u2019s a guy we believe can be a hell of a player. We\u2019re just hoping he gets there.\u201d<\/p>\n

The interception on Tuesday was thanks to Winters remembering a formation from offseason workouts, and he continues to study and watch film to anticipate where he should be. And that\u2019s just for practices.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m very comfortable now,\u201d Winters said. \u201cI mean, there\u2019s still some times where I see different formations. You know, practicing against Kyle\u2019s offense, you never really know \u2014 it\u2019s always something new every day. But I would rather the offense gets me in practice than in the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I appreciate Kyle for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shanahan likely appreciates that Winters was a do-everything offensive playmaker who once scored eight touchdowns in a game at Burton (Texas) High before focusing on defense at TCU. The downhill speed translated in high school, and it still does.<\/p>\n

\u201cHopefully he can continue to stay healthy and absorb every single one of these reps and learn all the nuance that\u2019s required to play linebacker,\u201d defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said. \u201cI think if he does, he\u2019s going to be a fun player to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n

Martin is sidelined with a thumb injury, and Winters, a 2023 sixth-round pick, said he is looking forward to the competition when the rookie returns.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am here for Nick if he ever needs any help,\u201d Winters said, \u201cbut at the end of the day it\u2019s competition and I am very excited for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Extra points<\/h2>\n

\u2022 The play of camp so far was turned in Wednesday on an ill-advised deep throw into triple coverage by Mac Jones. Isaiah Neyor went up and fought off Jason Pinnock, Dallis Flowers and Darrell Luter for the reception. The undrafted rookie then posed for the roaring fans in attendance.<\/p>\n

The 6-foot-4, 218-pound speedster (4.4 40-yard dash) has always looked the part but went to three colleges in five years (Wyoming, Texas and Nebraska) and never matched the 878-yard, 12-touchdown season he enjoyed in 2021 at Wyoming.<\/p>\n

\n

Neyoooor in the aiiiiir \u2708\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/asj9GVADMz<\/p>\n

\u2014 San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) July 24, 2025<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u2022 Left tackle Trent Williams said Wednesday that \u201cit sucks\u201d to go against first-round pick Mykel Williams in practice.<\/p>\n

\u201cMykel\u2019s a huge dude,\u201d Williams said. \u201cYou generally don\u2019t see guys that size on the edge. It sucks having to base block guys with arms as long as your legs. I think he has a chance to be a really good player in this NFL. I think he has a chance to be dominant.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Trent Williams says \u201cit sucks\u201d going against rookie Mykel Williams in practice. #49ers pic.twitter.com\/bKD9fOx2jr<\/p>\n

\u2014 Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) July 24, 2025<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The 37-year-old Williams got some time to hang out with the younger Williams in Cabo before training camp. The rookie asked if he could use the veteran\u2019s plane to go to Cabo, and Trent said he was planning to be out there around the same time so they could fly down together.<\/p>\n

Do teammates usually ask to borrow his plane?<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Williams said, smiling. \u201cThat\u2019s probably one of the most frequently asked questions that I get.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Photo of Dee Winters: D. Ross Cameron \/ Imagn Images)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Vic Tafur<\/strong> is a senior writer for The Athletic covering the San Francisco 49ers and the NFL. He previously wrote on the Las Vegas\/Oakland Raiders for 15 years for The Athletic and San Francisco Chronicle and covered the Warriors and 49ers before that. He also likes to write about boxing and mixed martial arts. Follow Vic on Twitter @VicTafur<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Third-round pick Nick Martin may have seemed like the 49ers’ replacement for Dre Greenlaw. 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