Leonard Davis passes first tests toward role with 49ers

SANTA CLARA -- Guard Leonard Davis passed his physical and the team's conditioning test Thursday morning.And, now, he's ready to compete to return to a familiar role as a starter.Davis, 33, has started all 155 games in which he appeared with the Arizona Cardinals (six seasons) and Dallas Cowboys (four seasons). Last year, he signed with the Detroit Lions at midseason as an insurance policy and never stepped on the field.In March, he visited the 49ers shortly after undergoing foot surgery. It was the only free-agent visit he made in the offseason. He said he was cleared medically in April or May."I was hoping it was going to happen sooner," Davis said of the one-year deal he signed with the 49ers. "But they had decisions to make. And at the time, me not being here was the best decision. Right now, I'm here and I'm glad to be here and be a part of the team and help the team be successful."Davis' chance to break into the starting lineup will likely come at right guard. Alex Boone was moved from tackle to right guard during the offseason, as the 49ers look to replace Adam Snyder. The 49ers did not offer Snyder a free-agent contract and he signed with the Arizona Cardinals in the offseason.Davis said he is a good fit for the 49ers because of the team's affinity for running the football. Davis (6-foot-6, 375 pounds) is built to provide push in the run game."I felt like that last year when I was in Detroit," Davis said when asked if he feels he can still be a starter. "But when I got there, they told me, explained what my role was, and at the time they had great chemistry. So they didn't want to do anything to mess that up."Lions guards Rob Sims and Stephen Peteman started all 16 games last season.Davis showed up Thursday morning in good shape. He was able to pass the team's conditioning test with 18 runs of 40 yards in under 7 seconds, he said."I went out and ran it," he said. "They told me to do a certain number, but I was kind of like, 'This isn't too bad,' and I did the same as everyone else."