Rookie 49ers defensive tackle CJ West has impressed during training camp, but he’s not losing sight of the lessons he’ll need to learn in order to become a fixture in the NFL.

West had a couple of noteworthy plays in San Francisco’s 30-9 preseason loss to the Denver Broncos on Saturday at Levi’s Stadium, but he’s focused on the bigger picture and his desire to embrace every learning opportunity possible.

“For sure. At this level, offensive linemen are smarter, they’re faster, and they know different ways to bend the rules just a little to give themselves an advantage,” West told reporters when asked about one of his standout plays Saturday. “On that play specifically, it was just me sticking to my technique, playing as hard as I possibly could, and understanding that as a rookie, you’re going to get humbled. Today was definitely humbling, going up against the starting offensive line and this other team. There’s a lot to learn in order to get better.”

Here is the play West referenced, where he split a double team and forced Broncos running back RJ Harvey to bounce outside into a not-so-welcoming swarm of red and gold for a minimal gain.

CJ West (@CJWEST50) stays in his gap vs a combo block. West splits it & has to be held from making the play. He does bottle up the RB though & allow for others to rally! #StopTheRun #49ers #FTTB pic.twitter.com/XanYdvIo5k

— DLineVids (@dlinevids1) August 10, 2025

West’s professional demeanor is a core part of his makeup as a player, and it was further evident when the rookie was asked about his perspective playing in a game that doesn’t count in the standings.

“Honestly, I didn’t even think about that,” West said. “Even though it’s the preseason, this matters to me. Every single snap matters because I want to prove that I can do this, and that I can be there for my teammates. So everything mattered to me. I wasn’t thinking about whether we won or lost or if it counted toward our record.”

After being selected No. 113 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, West has made a strong case to be a pivotal piece of the 49ers’ defensive-line rotation to begin his first pro season.

West’s play on the field obviously is a driving factor in his rising stock, but the work the rookie is putting in behind the scenes can’t be overlooked, either.

Following Saturday’s loss, West cited the importance of building and maintaining a rhythm when asked what the biggest takeaway from his first preseason game was.

“Consistency, for sure. I have to be consistent in how violent I am with my strike,” West explained. “I need to keep working on that, watch the film, and see where I went wrong and what I did well. I’ll carry that into the next game and into our next practice against the Raiders.”

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