Final Projections for the 49ers’ 53-man Roster
![Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) poses for photographs with fans following the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. San Francisco won 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) poses for photographs with fans following the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. San Francisco won 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/cd1cb65ffd3341fc22b383fff1ba5905647ffec7218020a24ae0462ab4fde755.jpg)
Outside Linebackers
Active Roster: Ahmad Brooks, Eli Harold, Tank Carradine, Marcus Rush
Suspended: Aaron Lynch (4 games)
Cut: Corey Lemonier
San Francisco needed one pass rusher to emerge with Aaron Lynch banned for the first four games of the year, and two have done so.
Tank Carradine’s transition from 3-4 end to outside linebacker has been a successful one to this point, the former Florida State defender registering two sacks, but the real star of preseason has been Marcus Rush.
Rush has been simply outstanding throughout the exhibition schedule, which he wrapped up with a two-sack display in San Diego in which he also forced a fumble and intercepted a pass.
Marcus Rush preseason grades among edge defenders:
— Jeff Deeney (@PFF_Jeff) September 2, 2016
vs. Run: 143rd out of 152
Pass Rush: 1st out of 152#49ers
The ex-Michigan State linebacker finished preseason with six sacks and certainly deserves to take the roster spot of Corey Lemonier, whose career with the Niners has been a tremendous disappointment.
Eli Harold will likely start across from Ahmad Brooks while Lynch is on the sidelines, and his absence will not be as keenly felt if Carradine and Rush can deliver in the regular season as pass rushers in subpackages.
Next: Cornerbacks