NFC Notes: 49ers, Giants, Packers

49ers

49ers TE Levine Toilolo was actually on his way to Jacksonville for a free-agent visit with the Jaguars when the 49ers reached out to his agent. San Francisco was an easy top choice because of Toilolo’s familiarity with HC Kyle Shanahan from their time with the Falcons. 

“The biggest thing is just the familiarity,” Toilolo said via the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch. “I’ve had a chance to spend time with Kyle and a couple of guys on the staff out in Atlanta. All that stuff was still pretty fresh with me. It’s nice to be here and just kind of know the offense — pick things up quickly and get rolling.”

• NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco says the 49ers believe the 12-week maximum for S Jimmie Ward‘s recovery from a broken collarbone is “ultra-cautious” and he’ll be back well before then. 
• Maiocco adds the team is confident in Ward as their best safety and Adrian Colbert as a capable backup, making it unlikely they’ll add someone like Eric Berry or Tre Boston. 
• Maiocco mentions RB Tevin Coleman as the early frontrunner to lead the 49ers running back committee, as he’s the healthiest so far. 
• 49ers OTs Shon Coleman and Justin Skule are auditioning to be the long-term right tackle for the team this year, per Maiocco.
• As long as he’s healthy, 49ers LB Malcolm Smith has the edge at the starting strongside linebacker spot, according to Maiocco.

Giants

Giants RB Saquon Barkley isn’t worried about being overused now that WR Odell Beckham is no longer a teammate. 

“I don’t think any number is too high for me personally,” Barkley said via the official team website. “At the end of the day, I know I sound like a broken record, but you will hear this for as long as I am in the NFL, as long as I take care of my body, my body will take care of me. I will continue to have my team around me. Obviously, have a great strength staff here and a great training staff here. Have to be a pro outside the facility. Whether it is 350 touches, 400 touches or less touches next year. Whatever I have to do to have this team compete for a championship, I am going to do.” 

Packers

Packers DL Mike Daniels still remains in the team’s plans for 2019 despite entering the final year of his deal and the bevy of resources the Packers poured into their front seven. 

“He’s still a dominant player,” Packers DL coach Jerry Montgomery said, per Rob Demovsky. 

Demovsky mentions that the Packers’ defensive line depth should help to limit Daniels’ snaps from the 50-60 per game he was playing in recent years.