SANTA CLARA — Widely panned after losing established leaders this offseason, the 49ers have elected nine captains to fill that void, more than twice as many as in past years.

Offensively, the 49ers’ captains are quarterback Colin Kaepernick, wide receiver Anquan Boldin, tight end Vernon Davis and left tackle Joe Staley.

The defense is represented by linebacker NaVorro Bowman, nose tackle Ian Williams and safeties Antoine Bethea and Eric Reid. Kicker Phil Dawson, entering his 17th season, is the special teams’ captain.

“We have a lot of great leaders on this team,” wide receiver Torrey Smith said. “A lot of natural leaders, and it isn’t forced. It’s pretty cool the coaches allowed us to keep more. It shows we have a lot of quality guys.”

Only Davis, Kaepernick and Staley previously served as a team captain. This year’s bumper crop won’t be wearing patches on their uniforms to signify their status, because, as coach Jim Tomsula said, “I’m into a team game.”

The 49ers didn’t elect more than four captains in any of the past four seasons. In 2011, it was Frank Gore and Patrick Willis. In 2012, Gore and Willis were joined by Alex Smith and Justin Smith. In 2013, Kaepernick served as a captain with Willis and Justin Smith. Last season’s quartet was Kaepernick, Staley, Willis and Justin Smith.

Willis and Justin Smith retired this offseason, and Gore left in free agency for the Indianapolis Colts.

Why so many captains this year? “I wanted to see how the team is feeling,” Tomsula answered.

Players could vote for as many players as they wanted, and Williams said selecting eight captains wasn’t a concerted effort to necessarily fill leadership voids.

“That’s just Jimmy T’s part of trying to show this is a team,” Williams said. “He doesn’t want to single out any one player, and to show the 49ers are not just one player or two players.”

Tomsula also wanted to make sure he’s not viewed as the lead character in this show.

“I really honestly don’t believe this is ‘The Jim Show.’ This isn’t about Jim Tomsula,” said the first-year coach, promoted in January to replace Jim Harbaugh. “It’s about the Niners. It’s about the locker room. It’s about everybody that puts the pieces together to make this happen organizationally.”

Tomsula recused himself from this weekend’s voting process once the 53-man roster got set.

“I stayed out of this for a reason, because I wanted them to do it,” Tomsula said. “I saved all the voting forms and sheets in case we had a recount. This was solely the guys.”

As the former defensive line coach, Tomsula certainly appreciates Williams’ ascent to a captain’s role, as well as the starting spot at nose tackle. Lower-leg fractures halted each of Williams’ past two seasons.

“It’s a huge honor to know my teammates and my coaches think of me in such high regard,” Williams said. “I tried to keep my head down, stay working and learn everything I could from guys older than me.”

Second-year cornerbacks Kenneth Acker and Keith Reaser have the inside track on earning the starting spot opposite Tramaine Brock for the season opener, Tomsula said. Acker and Reaser started the final two exhibitions, while Brock stayed out with a hamstring injury. Brock is expected to be healthy enough to start against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night at Levi’s Stadium. “Reaser and Acker are right there, getting after it,” Tomsula said. “Acker has really come on and done a great job.” Neither Acker nor Reaser played last regular season. Acker went on injured reserve with a foot fracture after the preseason, and Reaser spent his rookie year recovering from knee surgery. Dontae Johnson, the first of three cornerbacks drafted last year, also is in the mix to see action on passing downs, Tomsula said.

Will Australian rookie Jarryd Hayne return punts or kickoffs in the season opener, rather than Reggie Bush, Bruce Ellington or DeAndrew White? That question remains unanswered by Tomsula, who only said his staff indeed has decided on their return specialist. “Same group you’ve seen. All the guys have done a nice job at that,” Tomsula said.

Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner spoke highly about the 49ers defense his unit will face. “I know people are talking about the players they’ve lost,” Turner told reporters in Minnesota. “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.”

Tight end Vance McDonald is progressing well from an Aug. 23 left ankle injury, Tomsula said.

Nick Easton, acquired in a Saturday trade with the Baltimore Ravens, is viewed by the 49ers strictly as a center, though he has the capability of playing guard, Tomsula said.