Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

NaVorro Bowman more than a mentor

As NaVorro Bowman continues his rehab from the brutal left knee injury he suffered in the NFC title game last January, the All-Pro inside linebacker has been a constant presence on the San Francisco 49ers' sideline.

Bowman, already a team leader, has also become a mentor to the linebacker corps in general, to the man playing in his place in particular.

With Bowman on the physically unable to perform list, Michael Wilhoite has garnered a starting role, as well as praise from Bowman.

“He can cover, Mike's a good coverage linebacker,” Bowman told reporters on Tuesday. “A lot of people don’t know that, but we as linebackers and teammates, we see that in practice every week. So the coverage part is good. It’s just getting a feel on when he can take chances and when he can’t. Just comes with experience.

“As he continues to play, he’ll definitely get better and do better.”

Wilhoite, whose four starts this season doubled the two he had in his first two seasons combined, has two passes defensed and a forced fumble. His 15 tackles are third on the team.

But also give Bowman an assist, so to speak.

“NaVorro helps a lot,” Wilhoite said. “NaVorro is always in my ear, giving me little hints and little things to look for against a team. Maybe he might see a tendency that I didn’t see or he might feel something I don’t even feel just from watching film.

“I'd be hard-pressed to ever see NaVorro not giving me a tip or trying to help me. NaVorro loves this team and I think he wants this team to be successful and he knows in order for it to be successful we all have to be on the same page.”

Bowman, who is eligible to come off the PUP list after Week 6 but is more likely to return around midseason, would not offer an update on his physical condition.

He is, though, also keeping tabs on the rest of the defense. Especially after it pitched a shutout of the high-powered Eagles offense.

“I was very impressed,” he said. “Being in the position that we was in (at 1-2 entering the game) it just says a lot about the team we have ... we're going to go out and continue to fight every single week and just not let the outside world kind of dictate what’s happening around here.

“That was a great answer, response by the team.”

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