The San Francisco 49ers have finalized their 53-man roster as they look to put pieces in place for the 2026 NFL season.
Their roster is led by the likes of Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey and defensive leader Fred Warner. But the 49ers
also brought in familiar faces back into the fold with Deebo Samuel Sr. and Dre Greenlaw returning to San Francisco. They have bright spots in their 2026 draft class.Punter Corliss Waitman and long snapper Jon Weeks were cut during deadline day on Sunday, Aug. 30, but were later brought back to the team. Weeks joined the practice squad, while Waitman signed a one-year deal to be on the active roster.
Now, head coach Kyle Shanahan and company will shuffle the pieces together of who's healthy and who needs to sit
as they get ready for Week 1, when they face the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia.
There are some good things to takeaway from their roster, and some not so good. Here are winners and losers after the 49ers' 53-man roster:
WINNERS
49ers' 2026 rookie class makes cut
The 49ers' entire 2026 rookie class made the team, and most will be a part of team schemes and be expected to see snaps. Wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling has shown the tools necessary to be great. In two preseason games — in which he didn't play the whole game — he tallied 11 catches and 109 yards.
Defensive lineman Romello Height should expect to see time at the edge position especially as Nick Bosa works his way back from injury. Running back Kaelon Black has been terrific. General manager John Lynch told reporters on Aug. 31 that they "love what we've seen from Kaelon when he's been out there."
Defensive tackle Gracen Halton showed flashes of what he could be in the preseason. He's listed second on the depth chart behind Osa Odighizuwa. The 49ers have had bad luck with injuries to their offensive line, but it has allowed Carver Willis to be a potential starter. It also allows a chance for Enrique Cruz Jr., who didn't the best preseason, show that he can make impact on the line.
Ephesians Prysock will be key to the 49ers' secondary. Linebacker Jaden Dugger is someone who can make an immediate impact at Raheem Morris' SAM position.
KhaDarel Hodge
Wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge has played exceptionally well on special teams all preseason. It was an initial shocker to see that he was cut after the Sunday, Aug. 30 deadline to submit a 53-man. However, San Francisco brought him as one of 13 players on the practice squad. The 31-year-old Mississippi native went undrafted out of Prairie View A&M in 2018, but has made a career out of special teams, even earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2024, when he played for the Atlanta Falcons.
Hodge gets a chance to continue his career in San Francisco.
Linebacker depth
The Niners, when healthy, have one of the best linebacker groups in the league. San Francisco will be one of the toughest opponents from that defensive aspect alone between Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, Tatum Bethune, Nick Martin, Luke Gifford and Dugger.
"I thought that those guys were outstanding all through camp," Lynch said. "It was a deep group. Nick [Martin] I think by now has reverted to IR, made the initial 53, but Nick's a guy we're excited about. So, it's a really strong group. Give a lot of credit to ... [linebackers coach] K.J. [Wright] and [defensive run game coordinator] Johnny [Holland], those are really solid groups that we're extremely excited about."
Nick Bosa, George Kittle not on IR-list, could play week 1
The 49ers could see Nick Bosa and George Kittle play in Week 1 against the Rams, but it depends on how they look at practice, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Aug. 31.
"We're going to get them out there in these three days and hope it goes well," he said. "Yeah, with three days before we go, we're balancing it out with both of them. We don't want them to go three days in a row. So we're going to do a little on some of these days and more on one."
LOSERS
OL injuries: Who’s going to step up?
The 49ers have had so many unfortunate injuries to their offensive line, you have to wonder about the player that will step up to deliver. Currently they have Dominick Puni, Austen Pleasants, Brett Toth and Nick Zakelj on the injured reserved list. They need help on line.
To address their battered line, San Francisco traded for Jarrett Patterson from the Houston Texans, in exchange the 49ers sent their 2027 seventh-round pick.
Brandon Aiyuk
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk's name hasn't been brought up much lately. However, is he on the team after the initial cuts? Well, yes and no. He's due a bonus option payday.
But he might not get it since his position with the team hasn't changed, according to general manager John Lynch.
"He's on the Reserve/Left Squad List, and as such, it's, you know, he's just kind of not on our roster," Lynch said. When a reporter clarified asking that Aiyuk wouldn't get the bonus pay he said, "correct."
Also, his No. 11 was given to Demarcus Robinson, so that's also another indicator.
Will age be a factor?
The 49ers have a lot of nagging injuries to veteran players who are key components to the team. Some guys can go, some guys are out and others are day-to-day, being managed as they return from injury. It's a concern that these are their best, most impactful players. One big offseason move was acquiring Mike Evans, but he has battled a groin and hamstring injury. Other vets have been monitored just as Evans.
"Mike is another guy who never practiced three days in a row," Shanahan said. "Trent's [Williams] been like that. Christian's like that. Just talked about Greenlaw. Mike's still coming back from his injury. We should, I think we'll get him down there the first Saturday, which I look at as a Monday, but possibly on one of these three days but he's ahead of schedule, doing good. But, we know with Mike and where he is at in his career, we'll definitely have to treat him differently."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: San Francisco 49ers initial 53-man roster winners and losers
