The San Francisco 49ers have named their initial 53-man roster, which came with a few unexpected quirks.
For example, they didn't keep a full 53-man roster. They also didn't keep a punter or long snapper. We sifted through the various roster moves to make sense of the first version of the 49ers' 2026 roster. Here are our takeaways after Sunday's announcement:
One player short
The 49ers wound up keeping only 52 players, one short of the 53-player maximum. That's likely a placeholder for veteran offensive lineman Jarrett Patterson who the 49ers acquired in a trade according to reports. There's no official deal there yet, so it'll be 52 players until that trade goes through and Patterson is on the roster. From there the 49ers will have some work to do to clean up around
the edges of their roster before the season opener.
3 quarterbacks it is
It's not much of a surprise but there was at least some question as to whether the 49ers would keep a third quarterback on the 53-man roster. Kurtis Rourke, a 2025 seventh-round pick who missed all of last season while recovering from offseason ACL surgery, looked good in Week 1 of the preseason before suffering broken ribs that knocked him out of the final two exhibition matchups. The 49ers didn't want to risk losing him on waivers so he stuck on the 53-man roster. He figures to be the emergency third QB this season.
Special teams, anyone?!
The 49ers cut their only long snapper and punter. Jon Weeks and Corliss Waitman are both vested veterans who are now unrestricted free agents and are all but certain to be back with the 49ers. Still, it was funny to see that duo included in the 49ers' list of cuts at Sunday's deadline. Perhaps the 49ers just don't plan on punting or kicking any field goals this year.
Draft picks (and an undrafted rookie) win the day
Every member of the 49ers' 2026 draft class made the roster, as did undrafted rookie defensive tackle James Thompson Jr. It's not a huge surprise every draft pick made it, but there were definitely questions about how they'd operate with cornerback Ephesians Prysock nursing a shoulder injury and offensive lineman Enrique Cruz Jr. looking like a developmental project. Prysock could still be headed for IR, he just wasn't placed there as one of their early return designations. As for Cruz, expect him to be inactive for much of this season as the team works on potentially getting him to a level where he could be a starter over the next season or two.
No answers at left guard
San Francisco's roster moves did nothing to answer who'll be the starting left guard. Rookie Carver Willis is the frontrunner for now and veteran Robert Jones was released. While that would appear to point the sign in the direction of Willis starting, Jones could be back with the club after they make other moves to free up roster spots. Second-year OL Connor Colby is also still on the roster and also conceivably an option to start, although it appears he's a long shot to start the season opener. The 49ers also traded for Houston Texans OL Jarrett Patterson who has gotten NFL snaps at left guard and could push for the starting job.
That's a lot of linebackers
Surely there won't be seven linebackers on the 53-man roster when they go to Australia, but we though they might let go of Luke Gifford, Garret Wallow, Nick Martin, Tatum Bethune or some combination therein. Alas, they kept them all. Martin and Gifford have both been dealing with injuries and could be IR candidates to clear roster spots.
Injured lists in use
The 49ers placed four players on IR and two on the PUP list to begin the year. Four of the six players are eligible to return. Wide receiver Christian Kirk and offensive lineman Austen Pleasants were placed on IR with return designations. They'll be eligible to come off IR after Week 4. The same goes for running back Isaac Guerendo and defensive end Mykel Williams who were placed on the reserve/PUP list. They started camp there and will remain there for a minimum of four weeks before they can return. As for OLs Brett Toth and Nick Zakelj, their IR placements at final cuts came without return designations which means their seasons are over. Any player who is on the initial 53-man roster will be eligible to go on IR and return during the season.
More moves coming
As you could tell through the other blurbs here, there are a ton of moves on the way for San Francisco. This 53-man roster isn't close to the group they'll be taking with them to Australia.
More 49ers: 49ers officially announce final cuts, IR placements, 53-man roster
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Biggest takeaways from 49ers final cuts and initial 53-man roster
