Tackle James Brewer impressed at guard

We haven’t gotten an update on James Brewer, who left practice yesterday after being “dinged” and was evaluated for a concussion. But it’s a bad break for a third-year lineman who knew he was coming into a make-or-break season.

Brewer was supposed to be in the competition at right tackle, a third alternative to the headline battle between David Diehl and Justin Pugh. But with Chris Snee on PUP until yesterday, Brewer was asked to slide inside and play guard. He only started dabbling in the position last year (he’d been a life-long tackle, listed at 6-6, 330). But while those reps inside kept him from taking snaps at tackle and developing at the position, they also exposed his versatility. And opened some eyes.

“I thought he did very well,” Snee said of Brewer’s play at his position. “I’ve liked his approach all camp, really. He came in focused. He’s a guy who likes to have fun but you could tell he really was buckling down and he worked well. He showed that he’s capable of playing this week.”

And capable of playing more than one position, which, if you are not a starter, is a very good thing.

“It shows that he can play more than just tackle,” Snee said. “It adds value for him. The thing is, he had a good first week of camp and he went against one of the strongest guys in the league in Linval (Joseph) and held his own, so I was very impressed.”