Former bullying victim Jonathan Martin likely to start for 49ers

August 24, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tackle Jonathan Martin (71) during the third quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Levi
August 24, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tackle Jonathan Martin (71) during the third quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Levi /
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What a difference a year can make for Jonathan Martin who was the target of the bullying scandal with the Miami Dolphins last season and in his first year with the San Francisco 49ers is expected to start the team’s regular season opener on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.

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Starting right tackle Anthony Davis did not practice this week with a hamstring strain after missing all four of the preseason games and the majority of the offseason after offseason shoulder surgery.

Martin started 23 games in his first two seasons with the Dolphins after they selected him in the second round out of Stanford where he is reunited with Jim Harbaugh and 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman who had him with the Cardinal.

Roman is encouraged with what he has seen from Martin after fighting through a bout of mono in the offseason that resulted in a loss of weight and strength.

“Jonathan is a guy that I had the opportunity to work with at Stanford, Roman tells CSN Bay Area. “Really, really glad to have him on the team, but I’m ready to roll with anybody we put out there.”

“Getting stronger, yeah, definitely,” Roman said. “Especially coming off the mono in the spring. I think he’s definitely made strides there. He lost a bunch of weight and a lot of the gains he had put together, he had to start back at square one once he got over that little illness.”

Martin was acquired from the Dolphins for a conditional draft pick in March.