The San Francisco 49ers’ final roster cuts will be here in the blink of an eye. Most roster spots are locked up. However, there are still positions that need weeding out for the preseason finale. The Niners will use Thursday night’s game to determine whether any of the players fighting for a roster spot can contribute to their roster, whether it’s the final 53 or the practice squad.
Today, we’ll walk through each position to determine if there will be any bold moves by the 49ers.
Quarterback
Kurtis Rourke won’t
play in the preseason finale. Does that mean Mac Jones sees an extended run? Probably not. The team isn’t going to risk an injury to their backup — Jones could field trade offers during the first half of the season — behind backup offensive linemen.
Teams like the Falcons have to be keeping tabs on Jones. The 49ers know that.
We asked you whether the 49ers can afford to keep three quarterbacks. My answer is an easy yes. I don’t think that’s a bold prediction.
Maybe Mac plays the first quarter, and Adrian Martinez takes over for the final three quarters. That would be unfortunate for the receivers.
Verdict: No bold moves, keep three quarterbacks. You can always place Rourke on the short-term Injured Reserve if you need to keep him, but he isn’t going anywhere.
Running back
The 49ers won’t have to do any roster gymnastics at running back, thanks to Christian McCaffrey and Jordan James returning to practice. Kaelon Black showed plenty of promise in his preseason debut.
James and Black should get carries on Thursday. James might get a longer look since he missed so much of August. It’ll be a good opportunity for both players to get enough work in without overdoing it. I’d like to see Black and James work in tandem in the first half, with Sincere McCormick and Khalil Herbert taking over in the second half.
Verdict: No surprises when it comes time for cuts. McCaffrey, Black, James, and Kyle Juszczyk. The team can elevate Sincere McCormick from the practice squad on game day if need be, while the Isaac Guerendo experiment either ends or he lands on the Injured Reserve.
Wide Receiver
No Mike Evans or Jacob Cowing tonight, as both recover from groin injuries. The 49ers social media team had a video of Cowing on Wednesday. He’s making the roster. There’s also no need to play Deebo Samuel, De’Zhaun Stribling — although he could use the reps — and Demarcus Robinson.
Those are the five receivers with seats on a plane to Australia. Christian Kirk is an Injured Reserve candidate. Jordan Watkins can return, but he only covered kicks in the second preseason game. Tonight, he’ll have to make the difficult plays on offense and perhaps do a little bit of everything on special teams to stick around.
Verdict: I think the mildly bold move is to roll with five receivers. Use your practice squad elevations if you need a special teamer. But realistically, Watkins isn’t going to contribute on offense. If the 49ers are hovering at or below .500 around Thanksgiving, it won’t be because they waived Watkins in August.
It’ll allow the team to bulk up in the trenches.
Tight End
George Kittle returning changes everything. You don’t have to roster a player who is either inexperienced or untrustworthy. Instead of using a platoon rotation between Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell, they stay in their respective roles.
It may take a couple of weeks for Kittle to get into football shape, but defenses will be forced to play him 1-on-1, and the run game will benefit from having Kittle in the game, which will do wonders for the offense.
Verdict: Only three tight ends. Nothing to see here.
Offensive line
Dominick Puni re-entered the concussion protocol. Austin Pleasants (knee) and Robert Jones (unspecified) will make the trip to Australia. That was Kyle Shanahan’s way of telling us they’ll make the roster.
Brett Toth has had a concussion since the first week of August. What do the 49ers do with that?
Vederian Lowe will likely begin the season on the Injured Reserve. Pleasants makes the team as the swing tackle, with Jones, Carver Willis, and Puni as the guards.
Verdict: The 49ers keeping Enrique Cruz and Carver Willis wouldn’t be surprising due to the uncertainty along the line. But the bold move here would be to part ways with both and upgrade on the waiver wire.
Defensive line
It seems like after every practice you hear something about James Thompson making a play or impressing in some capacity. At his size, with his quickness, I doubt the Niners risk losing him. My bold prediction for this group is CJ West outplays Alfred Collins this year. West is the ideal run stopper this defense needs. The defensive tackle group has a chance to be as good as it’s been in several years — especially if Gracen Halton performs as he did in the preseason.
Sebastian Valdez and Bryson Eason are battling to make the roster tonight. It’s difficult to imagine any of the edge rushers taking a spot, though.
Verdict: The number of vested veterans you can do a handshake deal with and release on cutdown day to keep a young player like Eason or Valdez makes sense. The bold move would be to keep both.
A lot like the offensive line, the 49ers may find a better option at edge rusher, with Mykel Williams starting on the PUP, after other teams make their cuts. Edge rusher is another spot where the answer may not be on the roster.
Linebacker
Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, and Jaden Dugger are going to start. Dugger quickly leapfrogged Nick Martin, who still looks a little lost, but will make the roster after making a splash play on special teams in the second preseason game.
Tatum Bethune and Luke Gifford are your special teamers, and that’s the linebacker room.
Verdict: The bold move here would be to part ways with Gifford and roll with one of the young linebackers to complete the youth movement. Unlikely, but it’s an idea. Expect Garret Wallow and Larry Worth III to land on the practice squad, with Wallow getting the call on game days for special teams purposes.
Defensive backs
Renardo Green’s injury is the only concern for this group. If his hamstring lingers into the regular season, it means Jack Jones will start. Jones starting will be entertaining. One series you’ll love him. The next you’ll be begging for Green.
Deommodore Lenoir and Upton Stout are the other starters, with Ephesians Prysock being the final cornerback. There’s no argument for Nate Hobbs, as he hasn’t played. Perhaps he’s an Injured Reserve candidate.
Green isn’t the only starter with a hamstring concern. We haven’t seen Malik Mustapha in the preseason. There is no competition anymore at safety because of it. That means the 49ers enter 2026 with Marques Sigle and Ji’Ayir Brown penciled in at safety, with Ashtyn Davis covering kicks.
It goes without saying that this unit can stand to upgrade, but where are those coming from? These are positions where you either draft well at or spend big in free agency.
Verdict: No surprises in August, but a bold move would be to make a splash ahead of the deadline for a corner or a safety. My read is that the 49ers are banking on their defensive line to do much of the heavy lifting this season.
