SANTA CLARA – A Tremendous Bowl-contending roster is orbiting across the San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback transition.
After a month of coaching camp practices and three preseason video games, the 49ers and QB1 Trey Lance emerged wholesome, so, all techniques are a go for an additional playoff run.
Positive, extra roster juggling will ensue till the regular-season opener Sept. 11 at Chicago. However the crux of their 53-man roster is in place, and the primary official model is due by 1 p.m. Tuesday.
Do the 49ers dare save a spot for Jimmy Garoppolo, their QB-in-limbo? They’ve stored him round this lengthy simply in case Lance or one other crew’s quarterback will get harm. As soon as the preseason finishes this weekend — 4 video games Friday, eight Saturday, two Sunday — then an imminent launch is the 49ers’ finest route with Garoppolo.
It’s arduous to fathom Garoppolo taking a pay minimize (scheduled wage: $24 million) to be a backup at his previous job, the place he quarterbacked the 49ers to 2 NFC Championship Sport appearances and minutes from a Tremendous Bowl win. Garoppolo was welcome at camp to throw on the facet, however he by no means veered onto the apply discipline to look at alongside teammates, nor did he attend conferences.
A 12 months in the past, Lance’s profession began with a fractured finger within the preseason finale. The way it’s going now? “That is Trey’s crew,” as coach Kyle Shanahan declared on the onset of coaching camp.
Who else shall be on that crew? Right here is my guess at what it can resemble, primarily based on attending each apply and overlaying this franchise since 2000:
(*) – starter
QUARTERBACK (2)
IN: *Trey Lance, Nate Sudfeld
OUT: Jimmy Garoppolo, Brock Purdy
Evaluation: The enduring query: What's the subsequent vacation spot for Lance’s predecessor, Garoppolo? Now that preseason is finished, it received’t really feel nice, child, if Jimmy G stews on the 53-man roster one other week earlier than his $24 million wage turns into assured. Sudfeld is assured $2 million as a defacto mentor. Purdy could possibly be a strong QB2 — if QB1 really had expertise — and he can take the apply squad path like Nick Mullens in 2017.
RUNNING BACK (6)
IN: *Elijah Mitchell, *Kyle Juszczyk (FB), Jeff Wilson Jr., Ty Davis-Worth, Trey Sermon, JaMycal Hasty
OUT: Jordan Mason
Evaluation: Any of those operating backs are able to main the crew in dashing, besides Sermon, who fizzled all preseason. It’s arduous to dismiss Hasty due to his velocity and particular groups. Mason definitely could possibly be the following undrafted rookie who would possibly thrive within the Shanahan system, if he sneaks by to the apply squad.
WIDE RECEIVER (5)
IN: *Deebo Samuel, *Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Ray-Ray McCloud, Danny Grey
OUT: Malik Turner, Marcus Johnson, Tay Martin, Willie Snead IV
Evaluation: That is essentially the most promising receiving corps in Shanahan’s six seasons with a mix of velocity and flexibility – simply not a lot expertise. Turner might make it as a special-teams ace.
TIGHT END (3)
IN: *George Kittle, Charlie Woerner, Ross Dwelley
OUT: Tyler Kroft, Troy Fumagalli
Evaluation: Dwelley or Kroft? Stick to who you already know, and Dwelley has versatility with nice arms.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9)
IN: *Trent Williams (LT), *Aaron Banks (LG), *Jake Brendel (C), *Spencer Burford (RG), *Mike McGlinchey (RT), Daniel Brunskill (C/G), Colton McKivitz (OT), Jason Poe (G), Jaylon Moore (T/G)
OUT: Justin Skule, Nick Zakelj, Jordan Mills, Keaton Sutherland, Alfredo Gutierrez, Dohnovan West
Evaluation: The 49ers are maybe overly dedicated to their younger, homegrown linemen however, with a cell quarterback, that may be a affordable tact as a substitute of trotting out retread veterans. (Don’t be stunned if Skule goes on injured reserve due to his 2021 knee damage.)
DEFENSIVE LINE (10)
IN: *Nick Bosa (DE), *Arik Armstead (DT), *Javon Kinlaw (DT), *Drake Jackson (DE), Samson Ebukam (DE), Kerry Hyder Jr. (DE), Kemoko Turay (DE), Jordan Willis (DE), Kevin Givens (DT), Hassan Ridgeway (DT).
OUT: Charles Omenihu, Akeem Spence, Kevin Atkins, Alex Barrett
Evaluation: This could possibly be a 12-man unit however some you possibly can’t preserve everybody, and Omenihu could be a gorgeous commerce candidate, simply as he was final season for the 49ers from Houston.
LINEBACKER (5)
IN: *Fred Warner, *Dre Greenlaw, *Azeez Al-Shaair, Oren Burks, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
OUT: Marcelino McCrary-Ball, Curtis Robinson, Segun Olubi.
Evaluation: The NFL’s finest linebacker unit is hard to crack, however maybe McCrary-Ball swaps spots with Flannigan-Fowles, or Burks, who had a knee damage within the preseason finale.
CORNERBACK (6)
IN: *Charvarius Ward, *Emmanuel Moseley, Sam Womack III, Deommodore Lenoir, Ambry Thomas, Tariq Castro-Fields
OUT: Quantrezz Knight, Ken Crawley, Ka’Dar Hollman
Evaluation: Ward and Moseley are wholesome after muscle strains in camp, so no want for further reinforcements. Anybody minimize ought to be welcomed onto the apply squad.
SAFETY (4)
IN: *Jimmie Ward, *Talanoa Hufanga, George Odum, Tarvarius Moore
OUT: Dontae Johnson, Tashaun Gipson, Tayler Hawkins
Evaluation: Ward will head to injured reserve however it’s believed he have to be on the unique 53-man roster earlier than happening that short-term IR for at least 4 video games. Johnson is a powerful candidate to fill his roster spot as soon as IR’d.
SPECIALISTS (3)
IN: Robbie Gould (Okay), Mitch Wishnowsky (P), Taybor Pepper (LS)
Evaluation: Identical tripod as final season. Have at it, fellas.