San Francisco 49ers fans watch a training camp practice at the practice facility at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Friday, July 26, 2024. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)
SANTA CLARA – Welcome to Week 1 of the 49ers’ preseason, with the opening game Saturday in Nashville against the Tennessee Titans (4 p.m. PT).
Personnel moves and injuries are bound to happen — maybe even a high-profile trade — before the roster pares from 90 to 53 men by Aug. 27. Here is a projection on how that initial 53-man unit could look:
QUARTERBACK (3)
*Brock Purdy
Brandon Allen
Tanner Mordecai
Still in the mix: Josh Dobbs
Analysis: Allen knows the offense better than the other backups, and he took a majority of second-team reps Saturday while Dobbs split time with Mordecai. The 49ers could try to slip their QB3 onto the practice squad, perhaps even Mordecai, an undrafted rookie who Purdy says “can rip it” and now prove it in preseason games to unseat a veteran.
RUNNING BACK (4)
*Christian McCaffrey
*Kyle Juszczyk (FB)
Elijah Mitchell
Jordan Mason
Still in the mix: Isaac Guerendo (injured), Cody Schrader, Patrick Taylor Jr.
Analysis: McCaffrey looks in MVP-caliber form. Mason is bidding to overtake Mitchell for the No. 2 role. Mitchell wasn’t spotted at Sunday’s light practice, so his status is worth monitoring. Guerendo hasn’t practiced since a hamstring injury in camp’s first practice; the 49ers could ticket him to Injured Reserve and designate him to return during the season, as a new NFL rule allows for two such moves. Schrader, an undrafted rookie, shows admirable hustle and skills to perhaps stick. Matt Breida, per ESPN, is returning after his 2017-19 stint, and that could be in relation to Guerendo’s absence, maybe Mitchell’s.
WIDE RECEIVER (6)
*Brandon Aiyuk
*Deebo Samuel
Jauan Jennings
Ricky Pearsall
Trent Taylor
Jacob Cowing
Still in the mix: Chris Conley, Ronnie Bell, Danny Gray, Frank Darby, Tay Martin, Malik Turner, Terique Owens
Analysis: Aiyuk is on the roster, just not on the practice field. We crossed paths Sunday inside Levi’s Stadium and he seemed as anxious as ever to get a contract resolution. Renewed trade speculation is worthwhile only if the 49ers get a high-end starter in return. Samuel rested Sunday after going full tilt all camp, mixing classic plays with more incompletions-per-target than anyone. Taylor’s the best punt returner and knows the scheme. Cowing (hamstring) could also be a short-term IR candidate and must get on the field to prove his worth. Conley is superior to the other backups but could return to the practice squad. Bell came on strong Sunday.
TIGHT END (3)
*George Kittle
Eric Saubert
Brayden Willis
Still in the mix: Logan Thomas, Cam Latu, Mason Pline, Jake Tonges
Analysis: Saubert’s blocking proficiency and Willis’ Year 2 growth give them a leg up on roster spots. Thomas’ quiet camp now includes a hamstring injury. Latu was having a better camp than his rookie year before fumbling Friday and sitting out Saturday. Pline is a project who’ll be a fun watch in the preseason. Kittle has mentored Tonges (and others) so don’t rule him out yet.
OFFENSIVE LINE (10)
*LT Trent Williams
*LG Aaron Banks
*C Jake Brendel
*RG Dominick Puni
*RT Colton McKivitz
Jon Feliciano
Spencer Burford
Nick Zakelj
Jarrett Kingston
Chris Hubbard
Still in the mix: Ben Bartch, Brandon Parker, Drake Nugent, Isaac Alarcon, Sebastian Gutierrez, Pat Elfein
Analysis: Puni is taking all the first-team snaps at right guard since Spencer Burford broke his hand after two practices, but don’t dismiss Feliciano returning there for continuity’s sake from last season. Williams’ contract impasse needs to end by month’s end. Backup jobs are up for grabs so the preseason should help filter out the competition. The No. 4 tackle is a toss-up and Hubbard’s versatility could give him a nudge over the bigger Parker.
DEFENSIVE LINE (9)
*DE Nick Bosa
*DE Leonard Floyd
*DT Maliek Collins
*DT Javon Hargrave
DL Yetur Gross-Matos
DE Robert Beal Jr.
DT Jordan Elliott
DT Kevin Givens
DT Kalia Davis
Still in the mix: DE Austin Bryant, DT T.Y. McGill, DE Alex Barrett, DT Shakel Brown, DT Evan Anderson, DE Sam Okuayinonu
On Physically Unable To Perform list: Drake Jackson
Analysis: Floyd and Gross-Matos are exciting additions but depth at defensive end is a concern with Jackson expected to start the season on PUP. Collins and Hargrave form an elite interior duo with Elliott and likely Givens next men up, though Davis or McGill are pushing for a spot, too. Another defensive end is bound to arrive, be it this preseason or by the trade deadline.
LINEBACKER (6)
*Fred Warner
*DeVonde Campbell
Dee Winters
Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
Jalen Graham
Ezekiel Turner
Still in the mix: Tatum Bethune, Curtis Robinson
On Physically Unable To Perform list: Dre Greenlaw
Analysis: How many backups is a dilemma even more so this year with Greenlaw likely out the first four games. Campbell came aboard to fill in for Greenlaw, and while there is no guaranteed roster spot, his experience is valuable. Or the 49ers go younger. Winters and Graham are ascending after redshirting as rookies. If Graham proves capable of backing up Warner at middle linebacker, perhaps that makes Flannigan-Fowles expendable as he’s been in and out of camp with an injury issue. Turner is a special-teams catalyst. Bethune, a seventh-round pick, should start on the practice squad.
DEFENSIVE BACKS (9)
*CB Charvarius Ward
*CB Deommodore Lenoir
*S Ji’Ayir Brown
*S Talanoa Hufanga (on PUP)
S George Odum
CB Isaac Yiadom
CB Renardo Green
CB Rock Ya-Sin
S Malik Mustapha
Still in the mix: CB Darrell Luter Jr., CB Chase Lucas, CB Ambry Thomas, CB Sam Womack, S Erik Harris, S Tayler Hawkins, S Jaylen Mahoney,
Analysis: Hufanga is expected to spring next week off the Physically Unable To Perform list, thus making him ineligible to be on that to start the regular season. The cornerback corps is deeper than past years, so tough cuts await, or perhaps fresh-start trades of Thomas and Womack. Luter’s upside could prove more appealing than the experience of Ya-Sin and Lucas.
SPECIALISTS (3)
K Jake Moody
P Mitch Wishnowsky
LS Taybor Pepper
Analysis: This trio makes an encore after Moody’s rocky finish to his rookie year. Wishnowsky has missed the past two practices for unknown reasons.
Originally published at Cam Inman