Eric Reid

Despite key losses, Norv Turner still wary of 49ers defense

Published Sep. 8, 2015 5:09 p.m. ET

foxsports

Regardless of all the 49ers roster turnover in the offseason, Viking head coach Norv Turner isn't underestimating his Week 1 opponent.

“I know people are talking about the players they’ve lost,” Turner said, via the San Jose Mercury News. “But in terms of looking at them, they still have a group of guys that play at a high level, play extremely hard and they don’t give up a lot of big plays."

Perhaps the talk of the offseason was the number of key players the 49ers defensive unit lost.

Patrick Willis, Chris Borland and Justin Smith all retired; Chris Culliver, Perrish Cox and Dan Skuta left in free agency; Aldon Smith was released during training camp.

But the team regained NaVorro Bowman, who was sidelined the entire 2014 season, and still have All-Pro players Eric Reid and Antoine Bethea.

Even so, it's hard to envision the 49ers defensive unit taking a step up from last season, but Turner believes his offense will be facing a unit that will play hard regardless.

(h/t San Jose Mercury News)

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