SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers will cut their roster to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET Saturday. Here's a projection:
QUARTERBACK (3): Jimmy Garoppolo, Nick Mullens, C.J. Beathard
Would the Niners be open to a trade for one of their backups? Almost certainly. But coach Kyle Shanahan is adamant that you don't just give away an NFL-caliber quarterback, and he believes he has three of them in Garoppolo, Mullens and Beathard. Barring a good offer, the trio stays put.
RUNNING BACK (4): Tevin Coleman, Matt Breida, Raheem Mostert, Jerick McKinnon
It's possible that the Niners will place McKinnon on short-term injured reserve to start the season, but for that to happen, league rules stipulate that he must first make the roster. The other three are locked in, though there should be room on the practice squad for Jeff Wilson Jr. if he can clear waivers.
FULLBACK (1): Kyle Juszczyk
Juszczyk is an integral piece to the offense and will continue to be one in 2019.
WIDE RECEIVER (7): Dante Pettis, Trent Taylor, Deebo Samuel, Jalen Hurd, Marquise Goodwin, Jordan Matthews, Richie James Jr.
This is probably the toughest position group on the team to peg. The Niners have eight players for six, maybe seven, spots. With Taylor's status for the first week or two in doubt because of a foot injury, it's possible that the Niners will go heavy and keep seven. As at quarterback, a trade would help break the logjam, but for now, we'll go with Kendrick Bourne as the odd man out. James has been too good in the preseason and camp to ignore, and Shanahan has expressed confidence in Matthews, who is the best bet to be the primary slot option until Taylor returns.
TIGHT END (2): George Kittle, Levine Toilolo
Because the Niners are going heavy at quarterback, receiver and running back, they could go with just two tight ends and let Juszczyk and Hurd fill the gaps in the meantime. If they do keep three, it’s a close race between Kaden Smith and Ross Dwelley, either of whom could also land on the practice squad. One other option: the Niners could keep Dwelley or Smith instead of Toilolo and bring Toilolo back in Week 2, when his vested veteran salary wouldn’t be fully guaranteed.
OFFENSIVE LINE (8): Joe Staley, Laken Tomlinson, Weston Richburg, Mike Person, Mike McGlinchey, Ben Garland, Sam Young, Daniel Brunskill
The 49ers are thin here, and though they could carry more than eight, it's hard to see it, given the numbers needed at other positions and the lack of NFL-ready talent on the roster. A ninth lineman would likely be inactive on game day anyway. Joshua Garnett's inability to stay on the field makes it hard to keep him, which means Brunskill or Najee Toran could break through and land a spot. Rookie Justin Skule could also take a spot over Young, but the Niners need another experienced backup, and Skule could make it to the practice squad. Don't be surprised if they scour the waiver wire for potential help, though teams aren't exactly in a hurry to part with linemen who can play.
DEFENSIVE LINE (9): Dee Ford, DeForest Buckner, D.J. Jones, Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, Solomon Thomas, Sheldon Day, Jullian Taylor, Ronald Blair III
This is the one spot where the Niners have more talent than they can presumably keep, which means some difficult choices; such as leaving off preseason star end Damontre' Moore. It’s also possible they keep Moore and carry 10 on the roster, though that feels like a luxury they can’t afford given injuries elsewhere.
LINEBACKER (6): Kwon Alexander, Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, David Mayo, Azeez Al-Shaair, Mark Nzeocha
Ultimately, this feels like a battle amongst Al-Shaair, Nzeocha, Mayo and Elijah Lee for two or three spots. Al-Shaair is the least known commodity of that group but has made a strong impression in the preseason and training camp. A thumb injury to Lee slowed his progress, and though he’s proved solid in the past, Al-Shaair’s upside nudges him on to the roster rather than risking pushing him through to the practice squad.
DEFENSIVE BACK (10): Richard Sherman, Ahkello Witherspoon, Jaquiski Tartt, Jimmie Ward, K'Waun Williams, Jason Verrett, D.J. Reed, Tarvarius Moore, Emmanuel Moseley, Marcell Harris
Verrett's ankle injury created some uncertainty, but so did the knee injury to Williams. It's unclear whether either or both will be available as the regular season begins, which means the Niners have to play it safe and keep an extra corner over an extra safety. In that case, it means Moseley, who had a strong camp and preseason, fends off Adrian Colbert, who has battled injury issues for much of the past year and a half.
SPECIALISTS (3): Robbie Gould, Mitch Wishnowsky, Colin Holba
No drama here, though the Niners will have a decision to make at long-snapper after Kyle Nelson serves the final six games of a 10-game suspension.