Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Laying out the depth chart after roster cuts

By Peter Panacy

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 27: Brian Hoyer #2 of the San Francisco 49ers hands the ball to teammate Carlos Hyde #28 against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter in the preseason game on August 27, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 27: Brian Hoyer #2 of the San Francisco 49ers hands the ball to teammate Carlos Hyde #28 against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter in the preseason game on August 27, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 23: Peyton Barber #43 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is tackled by Eric Reid #35 of the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on October 23, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 23: Peyton Barber #43 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is tackled by Eric Reid #35 of the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on October 23, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Safety

Free Safety: Jimmie Ward

Strong Safety: Eric Reid

Backups: Jaquiski Tartt, Lorenzo Jerome, Adrian Colbert

Eric Reid looks like a perfect fit at strong safety — a move from the free safety spot he spent all four years with the Niners after being selected back in 2013.

Free safety Jimmie Ward (hamstring) has missed the entirety of training camp and the preseason. At the time this was written, Ward is still listed on San Francisco’s active roster, suggesting he’ll likely return at some point soon.

In the meantime, the 49ers might be wise to place rookie undrafted free-agent Lorenzo Jerome into a starting role.

Jerome worked with the first-team units quite a bit during preseason, and his solid play certainly warrants consideration.