There’s nothing better than overreacting to a preseason game — a preseason game where the majority of San Francisco 49ers starters sat out, nonetheless.
Football is fluid, and a decision that you felt strongly about last Wednesday could be completely different by Saturday. That’s what the coaching staff is dealing with daily after every practice.
Here is an updated 53-man roster projection heading into the second week of the preseason.
Quarterback (3): Brock Purdy, Mac Jones, Kurtis Rourke
Nobody had Rourke making the roster when camp started. Then we saw
him operate Kyle Shanahan’s offense with only two starters. Rourke is likely Purdy’s backup for the next couple of seasons after Jones leaves in free agency next offseason.
The 49ers aren’t going to risk losing their future backup who has two seasons remaining on his rookie contract after 2026 on waivers.
Running backs (4): Christian McCaffrey, Kyle Juszczyk, Jordan James, Kaelon Black
This position seems relatively cut and dry.
I have Isaac Guerendo beginning the season on the PUP list as of now. The running backs who played in the first preseason game are the definition of camp bodies. If there’s another injury before Week 1, or one of the James/Black duo isn’t healthy, expect Patrick Taylor Jr. to be the next man up due to his special teams experience.
Wide Receiver (6): Mike Evans, De’Zhaun Stribling, Deebo Samuel, Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Watkins, Jacob Cowing
That sixth spot is up for grabs, as the first five are set in stone.
There isn’t a single reason to keep Christian Kirk if he misses the entire camp. The 49ers gave him $1.6 million guaranteed this offseason. Kirk turns 30 in November. I have a hard time imagining teams rushing to sign him when they had the opportunity in March and didn’t.
I can’t quit Cowing. The 49ers will if he suffers another injury at any point over the next couple of weeks. Cowing reportedly got banged up again during Sunday’s practice, but returned to action and made plays. His speed is real and unlike anything else on the roster. He is also the best returner on the roster. None of that matters if Cowing can’t stay on the field, which he has proven he can’t to this point.
Still, he brings something to the table that has been missing in this offense, which is why his leash continues to be long.
Tight end (3): George Kittle, Jake Tonges, Luke Farrell
Kittle said he’ll return sooner than later. I believe him. Even if it’s not Week 1, he might use that time to get into football shape and be back by Week 2 or 3. If there’s any inkling of Kittle playing within the first month, you don’t place him on the PUP.
You can use the other two on special teams, which might help you skim at other positions. The 49ers working out undrafted free agent Khalil Dinkins this past weekend was their way of telling us how they feel about the tight ends behind these three.
Offensive line (9): Trent Williams, Vederian Lowe, Robert Jones, Carver Willis, Jake Brendel, Brett Toth, Dominick Puni, Colton McKivitz, Connor Colby
There’s great risk entering the season with one backup tackle. However, McKivitz hasn’t missed a game since 2022. The 49ers would be banking on history here.
Enrique Cruz Jr. doesn’t look like he knows what he’s doing. Based on what he put on film last Thursday, it’d be surprising if another team claimed him.
Who knows how the guard rotation will work, so I’d expect the Niners to roster several. If Jones and Willis run away are a tier above Colby, don’t be surprised if the team signs a tackle off waivers and parts ways with Colby. Remember, he’s a seventh-round pick from last year. His spot isn’t guaranteed, and it shouldn’t be.
Defensive line(10): Nick Bosa, Osa Odighizuwa, Alfred Collins, Romello Height, CJ West, Keion White, Gracen Halton, Sam Okuayinonu, Bryson Eason, Ogbo Okoronkwo
It seems like the 49ers have their minds made up at EDGE. I’m taking an extra pass rusher with Mykel Williams presumably beginning the season on the PUP. The 49ers add a veteran who could give you 10-15 snaps, which might not seem like a big deal, but that’s the difference in keeping Bosa fresh or Height off the field for run downs.
The final spot along the defensive line is a battle between Eason, James Thompson Jr., and Sebastian Valdez.
Valdez’s upper body strength and agility will make this competition close. But Eason’s compact frame, lower-body explosiveness, and technique that let him hold up against double teams and win 1-on-1 as a run defender make him too valuable to cut. He’s the type of moldable clay Kris Kocurek should be working with daily.
Linebacker (6): Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, Jaden Dugger, Tatum Bethune, Luke Gifford, Nick Martin
If I were making the rules, I’d punt on the third-rounder from 2025 and move forward with either Garret Wallow or Larry Worth III.
Martin looks like he’s behind the 8-ball when it comes to knowing the ins and outs of linebacker play. The only way for him to get better is to play, but that’s not going to happen if he performs anything like he did last Thursday. The fact that he was taken off the field on obvious passing downs was not a good look.
Dugger is too intriguing a prospect to move on from. I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts as the third linebacker, or even comes into the game if Raheem Morris has doubts about Greenlaw’s coverage ability.
Gifford sticks for special teams reasons and because of a $1.35 million guaranteed salary.
Cornerback (5): Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green, Upton Stout, Jack Jones, Ephesians Prysock
Goodnight, Darrell Luter Jr. He was making similar mistakes in the preseason that he made as a rookie. Prysock can do all of the things you ask of Luter Jr., and you get him for four years on a rookie deal, as opposed to Luter Jr., who is in the final year of his contract.
Nate Hobbs missing “a few weeks” with a groin injury likely seals his fate. If anything happens to Stout at nickel, you can bump Lenoir inside and play Jones on the outside.
Jakob Robinson likely sticks on the practice squad and continues to sharpen his skills in the slot.
Safety(4): Malik Mustapha, Ji’Ayir Brown, Marques Sigle, Ashtyn Davis
Davis has played himself onto the roster. He had a near interception and took on an offensive lineman blocking at full speed. Those two plays were impressive.
Siran Neal is 32 and in the final season of his contract. If he added any value at safety, he’d be in the discussion, but that’s clearly not the case.
Davis is also a couple of years younger than Neal and was with Brant Boyer on the Jets.
Watching the safety rotation throughout the season should be a rollercoaster. I’m still not convinced Sigle is the answer. But I’ve seen Mustapha and Brown make similar mistakes by allowing deep passes to go over their heads. Maybe Davis gets a shot to play at some point.
Realistically, the Niners would find an answer on the waiver wire at the end of the month or at some point ahead of the trade deadline if they feel like they aren’t getting the type of production Raheem Morris wants at the position.
Special teams (3): K Eddy Pineiro, P Corliss Waitman, LS Jon Weeks
The 49ers kept the lefty at punter and were rewarded with a muff in the preseason. Jack Bouwmeester will be stashed on the Rams as an International Pathway Program Exemption.
