Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: 5 most surprising roster cuts of 2018

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Aaron Burbridge #13 of the San Francisco 49ers leads teammates onto the field before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Aaron Burbridge #13 of the San Francisco 49ers leads teammates onto the field before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – AUGUST 30: Adrian Phillips #31 of the Los Angeles Chargers is called for unsportsmanlike conduct for his hit on Cole Hikutini #83 of the San Francisco 49ers during their preseason game at Levi’s Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – AUGUST 30: Adrian Phillips #31 of the Los Angeles Chargers is called for unsportsmanlike conduct for his hit on Cole Hikutini #83 of the San Francisco 49ers during their preseason game at Levi’s Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

No. 4: Tight End Cole Hikutini

In training camp, Cole Hikutini was regularly working as the 49ers’ No. 3 tight end behind Garrett Celek and George Kittle. Hikutini was a predominant pass-catching option during practice, and his chances of making the 53-man roster looked pretty good at the time.

However, things didn’t exactly translate well over into the preseason.

Hikutini was beset by a number of drops, including a critical would-be touchdown catch against the Indianapolis Colts in the Niners’ third exhibition game of 2018.

Some poor performances during the preseason, combined with Hikutini’s relatively poor blocking abilities, opened up the door for fellow tight end Cole Wick to steal the No. 3 spot.

It’s possible Hikutini winds up being brought back on the team’s practice squad, which can start being finalized at 1 p.m. ET on Sept. 2. That’s the place he started his rookie season after going undrafted in 2017.

But for a player who looked solid in training camp, falling out of favor was a bit of a shock.