NFC Notes: 49ers, Cardinals, Rams

49ers

• The Athletic’s David Lombardi says 49ers fifth-round S Talanoa Hufanga will get reps as a hybrid linebacker during training camp. 
• He adds San Francisco is hoping for someone to really seize the third linebacker spot, with the leading candidates being Azeez Al-Shaair, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and James Burgess. 
• The Athletic’s Matt Barrows notes the 49ers also experimented with S Marcell Harris in a linebacker role at one point last season. 

Cardinals

Cardinals DT D.J. Humphries said it was a strange experience to not see CB Patrick Peterson or WR Larry Fitzgerald at minicamp. Peterson signed with the Vikings as a free agent, while Fitzgerald is contemplating retirement. 

“I haven’t been to a practice in my NFL career before minicamp where I didn’t see Patrick or Larry,” Humphries said, via SiriusXM NFL Radio. “So that was something for me that kind of took me back a little bit when I went out there, because I’m used to those guys. I always felt like I was practicing to prove something to those guys and make those guys proud of me because those are my OGs, those are guys that have been here since I’ve been here.”

Rams

• The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue writes that it stood out to her just how much the Rams trusted fourth-round TE Jacob Harris with nearly all the first-team reps during OTAs and minicamp, and that Harris showed impressive command by moving all over the formation. 
• Harris was playing soccer just two years ago, so a developmental season wouldn’t be shocking. But Rodrigue adds she wouldn’t discount entirely the idea of Harris playing a role on more than just special teams as a rookie. 
• Rodrigue expects Rams second-round WR Tutu Atwell to be a situational player as long as free-agent signing DeSean Jackson stays healthy — though that has been rare in the veteran’s career. 
• Rodrigue mentions Rams 2020 fourth-round TE Brycen Hopkins looks noticeably bigger. While Hopkins was seen as a replacement for former Rams No. 2 TE Gerald Everett when he was drafted last year, Rodrigue thinks Los Angeles might be trying to develop Hopkins into a more all-around tight end like starter Tyler Higbee. 
• As for the future of Rams WR Robert Woods, Rodrigue says a trade never made sense this season. However, that could change in 2022 depending on what the team needs and how much 2020 second-round WR Van Jefferson has developed. 
• According to Gil Brandt, the Rams have dropped their affiliation with one of the two National college scouting groups, along with the BLESTO scouting program.