Why Adrian Colbert needs a strong showing to make roster

With Tarvarius Moore locking down the starting free safety role and both Jimmie Ward and Antone Exum playing well, Adrian Colbert is now firmly on the 49ers roster bubble in need of a strong showing against the Chargers.

Just a year ago, Adrian Colbert was sitting pretty with a lock on a starting safety job for the San Francisco 49ers. Now, one year later, he sits firmly on the roster bubble, and things only continue to look worse for him.

The shift of Tarvarius Moore to free safety provided new competition for Colbert, competition which had been prolific at the position in college. Rightfully so, Moore outplayed Colbert in practice, earning the majority of starting reps. Things only got worse for Colbert when Jimmie Ward returned from injury and played extremely well against the Kansas City Chiefs as a nickel corner and fill-in safety during Week 3 of the preseason.

That’s not to say Colbert has been slacking off. A series of bad circumstances led to this new situation. In preseason Week 1, Colbert was ejected against the Cowboys for a hit that was a borderline flag, let alone an ejection. Following that, Colbert dealt with a hamstring issue which kept him out of more preseason games and as important, practice.

Colbert is now looking as the third-best free safety, which doesn’t bode well for his roster chances. But there still is hope.

Given the flexibility Ward provides at slot corner, Moore theoretically provides at outside corner and D.J. Reed provides at safety, there is a chance the 49ers choose to keep only five corners.

That could theoretically open up a roster spot for a fifth safety.

If a spot for a fifth safety emerges, things get very interesting. Colbert has tangible upside which he has flashed before. However, Antone Exum has been playing as well as any safety on the 49ers as well.

Exum is an established special teams player, very important when building the back end of the roster, but Colbert has the ability to slot in there as well.

The only reason Colbert still is in the conversation is because he has shown the ability to play well before. Peter Panacy broke down how Colbert’s main issues come from reading plays and taking angles over his athletic ability. With his youth, the 49ers could be tempted. But at a certain point, potential begins to matter less and less.

This is why Colbert needs to show out this final preseason game Thursday night against the Los Angeles Chargers.

A strong performance cannot guarantee a roster spot, but it is the only way he can persuade the front office to keep him on the roster.