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49ers preseason: 5 takeaways from San Francisco’s loss to Vikings

By Peter Panacy

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 27: C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers passes the ball under pressure by Jaleel Johnson #94 of the Minnesota Vikings during the fourth quarter in the preseason game on August 27, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the 49ers 32-31. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 27: C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers passes the ball under pressure by Jaleel Johnson #94 of the Minnesota Vikings during the fourth quarter in the preseason game on August 27, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the 49ers 32-31. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 27: Taylor Heinicke #6 of the Minnesota Vikings dives to complete a two-point conversion as Tank Carradine #95 and Austin Calitro #47 of the San Francisco 49ers to win the preseason game on August 27, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the 49ers 32-31. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 27: Taylor Heinicke #6 of the Minnesota Vikings dives to complete a two-point conversion as Tank Carradine #95 and Austin Calitro #47 of the San Francisco 49ers to win the preseason game on August 27, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the 49ers 32-31. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

No. 3: 49ers Need Some New Cornerbacks

On a good note, No. 1 cornerback Rashard Robinson didn’t get burned, as was the case in Weeks 1 and 2 of the preseason.

On a 2nd-and-11 play in the second quarter, Robinson was tasked with covering Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Robinson broke up a deep would-be catch, but the second-year defensive back failed to turn his head on the play. That could get flagged, depending how the official views it.

Robinson is still going through growing pains, and rookie corner Ahkello Witherspoon isn’t ready for a full-time role yet.

That leaves a lot of less-than-desirable options on the outside.

One of those choices, veteran Keith Reaser, was directly responsible for Minnesota’s game-winning touchdown/two-point conversion, committing a pass-interference penalty in the end zone just before time expired in the fourth quarter.

That didn’t help his roster chances, and the Niners don’t have a ton of other options either.

In all likelihood, general manager John Lynch is going to scour the waiver wire when final NFL roster cuts are made following the preseason. And cornerback should be high on his list.