Niner Noise
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Final Projections for the 49ers’ 53-man Roster

By Nicholas McGee

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 /
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Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Marcus Rush (center) runs a fumble back during the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Marcus Rush (center) runs a fumble back during the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

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.

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