With one week of 49ers training camp in the books, Niner Noise revises the bubble watch for the offseason depth chart to see who’ll make the 53 man roster.
The San Francisco 49ers have wrapped up their first week of training camp, and already there are some key storylines for head coach Kyle Shanahan to tackle.
Injuries have played a role, namely with the team having lost second-year wide receiver Jalen Hurd to a season-ending ACL tear, removing a player many Niners fans were excited to see for the first time after he missed his rookie year with a back injury.
Hurd’s absence opens up another spot on the depth chart, meaning one of the other reserve players on the 80-man offseason roster is going to be taking Hurd’s spot.
There have been other roster tweaks since Hurd’s injury, and there are likely to be more between now and the beginning of the regular season when Shanahan and his staff will have to trim down from 80 players to the 53-man roster we’ll see in Week 1.
Many of those transactions will produce players on the weaker side of the roster bubble. So, to break down the bubble, Niner Noise breaks down each player into the four standard categories:
- Lock
- Strong Bubble
- Weak Bubble
- Long Shot
The bubble can be pretty wide and include players most think make the roster. Since they’re not surefire locks, though, they have to be placed on part of the fringes.
And it’s too bad we won’t see those long shots make a name for themselves in the preseason, but that’s the situation this offseason.
So, let’s kick off the roster bubble by looking at a unit where there’s no drama, special teams.
* Denotes rookie.
Note: Roster used is the official one posted on the team’s website as of Aug. 20, 2020.
49ers Special Teams
Lock: K Robbie Gould, LS Kyle Nelson, P Mitch Wishnowski
Strong Bubble: none
Weak Bubble: none
Long Shot: none
Unlike last season, the Niners don’t have to think about who the best option is at long-snapper filling in for Kyle Nelson, who had to miss the first six games of the season while serving a suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.
That should make veteran kicker Robbie Gould feel a bit better after his performances over the first half of 2019 weren’t exactly stellar, and getting the constant battery of Gould, Nelson and punter/holder Mitch Wishnowsky is a boost for San Francisco’s special teams unit.
Return duties are still up for grabs, though, and it’s a question the Niners will have to answer in the wake of wide receiver Richie James suffering an offseason wrist injury forcing him to miss training camp.
49ers Defensive Backs
Lock: Emmanuel Moseley, Richard Sherman, K’Waun Williams, Tarvarius Moore, Jimmie Ward, Jaquiski Tartt
Strong Bubble: Jamar Taylor, Jason Verrett, Ahkello Witherspoon, Marcell Harris
Weak Bubble: Tim Harris, Dontae Johnson, Johnathan Cyprien,
Long Shot: Jared Mayden*, Evan Foster*
San Francisco has two of its top three cornerback spots set with Richard Sherman and nickel corner K’Waun Williams, the latter a bit banged up but scheduled to return in time for the regular season.
The No. 2 boundary job, however, remains up for grabs with Emmanuel Moseley, Jason Verrett and Ahkello Witherspoon all getting work with the first-team units. And according to defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, the oft-injured Verrett is very much in the mix to start:
The starting safety tandem of Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt is set, but there’s compelling enough a challenge for backup duties, particularly at strong safety where Marcell Harris has bounced back from some ugly pass-coverage efforts last year.
San Francisco’s recent pickup of veteran safety Johnathan Cyprien likely means undrafted rookie Jared Mayden is more of a candidate for the practice squad than anything else this season.
49ers Linebackers
Lock: Kwon Alexander, Dre Greenlaw, Fred Warner
Strong Bubble: Azeez Al-Shaair, Mark Nzeocha, Joe Walker
Weak Bubble: none
Long Shot: Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
There aren’t too many battles to be won at linebacker, given the 49ers have three starting-caliber options available for base formations: Fred Warner, Kwon Alexander and Dre Greenlaw.
Greenlaw might be the best No. 3 option in the league entering 2020, and he already proved his worth in San Francisco’s crucial Week 17 win over the Seattle Seahawks with his goal-line stop of Seahawks tight end Jacob Hollister.
That’ll give the Niners a solid three-man rotation for two spots on nickel packages, which is good, although the reserve/special teams options for this position aren’t quite set yet.
Mark Nzeocha seems like a lock, although it’s hard to justify keeping a player solely based on his special teams coverage and gunner skills. If he’s outplayed by one of the other depth members, namely Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles or Jonas Griffith, Nzeocha could be on the outside, looking in.
Still, it’s hard to see that happening.
49ers Defensive Linemen
Lock: Arik Armstead, Nick Bosa, Dee Ford, D.J. Jones, Solomon Thomas, Javon Kinlaw*
Strong Bubble: Kevin Givens, Kerry Hyder, Ronald Blair
Weak Bubble: Dion Jordan, Kentavius Street, Jullian Taylor
Long Shot: Darrion Daniels*, Jonathan Kongbo
San Francisco’s defensive line remains the team’s strongest and most formidable unit on that side of the ball, although there are some pressing questions about the depth.
Linemen Ronald Blair and Jullian Taylor are still on the physically unable-to-perform (PUP) list after suffering torn ACL’s last season, and Taylor’s was much later in the season, thereby putting his availability to start the regular season in jeopardy. It’s likely the Niners start Taylor on the PUP list, giving the team a six-week window where he won’t count against the 53-man roster.
EDGE Kerry Hyder is on the fringe, although defensive line coach Kris Kocurek will be looking to replicate the kind of success they had together back in 2016 with the Detroit Lions when Hyder recorded eight sacks.
Apparently, Kocurek is hyped about Hyder, and his presence could bolster a questionable pass-rush depth behind the impact duo of Dee Ford and Nick Bosa.
Rookie defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw is expected to occupy a significant role right away and should be a three-down lineman early.
49ers Offensive Linemen
Lock: Mike McGlinchey, Trent Williams, Laken Tomlinson, Daniel Brunskill
Strong Bubble: Weston Richburg, Justin Skule, Colton McKivitz*, Ben Garland, Tom Compton
Weak Bubble: William Sweet, Hroniss Grasu
Long Shot: Jaryd Jones-Smith, Kofi Amichia
There are a lot of moving parts and question marks about San Francisco’s offensive line, already soon enough in training camp.
If center Weston Richburg is healthy and able to return from a late-2019 knee injury, he’ll be on the roster and will start. But that’s still a question mark, and backup center Ben Garland suffering an injury during camp opened up the door for more questions, too.
Perhaps that’s the reason the 49ers onboarded veteran interior lineman Hroniss Grasu.
Linemen Daniel Brunskill, Justin Skule and Colton McKivitz all provide versatility, although Brunskill is likely the favorite to secure the right guard spot over his prime competition, Tom Compton. But Brunskill might also be asked to slide into the center role, opening up the door for Compton to make the roster even if he loses the battle with Brunskill.
At least watching Trent Williams go up against Nick Bosa has been fun to watch.
49ers Tight Ends
Lock: George Kittle
Strong Bubble: Ross Dwelley, Jordan Reed, Charlie Woerner*
Weak Bubble: none
Long Shot: Chase Harrell*
Depth behind All-Pro tight end George Kittle is essentially the only question about this position, and it’s a pretty wide-open bout with a lot of moving parts that could wind up anywhere — the No. 2 role behind Kittle or off the roster altogether.
Before Jalen Hurd’s injury and after San Francisco picked up former Washington tight end Jordan Reed, third-year pro Ross Dwelley was much further down the bubble. Especially considering he lacks the blocking capabilities required for a third-string tight end and those possessed by the rookie, Charlie Woerner.
But Hurd’s absence opens up the door for Dwelley to assume more of a move-tight end or H-back role in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Dwelley is far from a lock, but his chances certainly improve.
Can Reed stay healthy? If so, the 49ers will have a potent one-two punch at the position.
After blowing away scouts during his pro day, rookie tight end Chase Harrell is still too raw and unrefined for a spot on the 53-man roster. He could use a year’s worth of development on the practice squad.
49ers Wide Receivers
Lock: Brandon Aiyuk*, Kendrick Bourne, Trent Taylor
Strong Bubble: Jauan Jennings*, Dante Pettis, Richie James, Deebo Samuel
Weak Bubble: Tavon Austin, J.J. Nelson, Jaron Brown
Long Shot: Shawn Poindexter
Ah, some conflict.
Richie James and Deebo Samuel still need to work their way back from offseason injuries. Samuel could potentially return in time for Week 1 from his Jones fracture in his left foot, but it’s also possible he winds up on the PUP list and misses at least the first six weeks. It’s all dependent on his recovery and availability, putting him on the bubble for now.
Rookie wideout Brandon Aiyuk has been one of training camp’s best stories, and the former Arizona State standout has already impressed with some savvy route-running skills. Based on those early efforts, he’ll start potentially alongside Kendrick Bourne if Samuel is unable to go.
Slot receiver Trent Taylor, meanwhile, appears as if he’s fully bounced back from his own foot injury a year ago.
Things get interesting lower down the depth chart, however.
Third-year pro Dante Pettis has started to bounce back in camp after somewhat of a sluggish start and forgettable 2019 effort. While he’s nowhere close to being a lock, it’s a reassuring sign to see him stand out for the right reasons in camp.
Depth receivers like Tavon Austin, Jaron Brown and J.J. Nelson are going to have a tough time making the cut and are likely camp bodies to guard against any further injuries.
49ers Running Backs
Lock: Kyle Juszczyk, Tevin Coleman, Jerick McKinnon, Raheem Mostert
Strong Bubble: Jeff Wilson Jr.
Weak Bubble: Salvon Ahmed*, JaMycal Hasty*
Long Shot: Josh Hokit*
Again, the Niners running back room is awfully crowded heading towards Week 1.
True, the offseason trade of Matt Breida to the Miami Dolphins cleared up a spot, but that’s been occupied by Jerick McKinnon, who returns from a two-year injury absence.
McKinnon has looked sharp in training camp, which gives Kyle Shanahan a new dimension to his offensive, both on the ground and through the air. Yet McKinnon’s presence and apparently full recovery also points to undrafted rookie runner JaMycal Hasty having an uphill climb to make the 53-man roster.
Hasty and fellow rookie Salvon Ahmed have had their moments in training camp, yes. But it’s hard to find room for either player unless fourth-string running back Jeff Wilson can’t make the cut.
San Francisco knows what it has in Wilson, however, and he offers much more in the short-area game than either of the two rookies.
The 49ers may consider using the practice squad to develop fullback Josh Hokit as a possible replacement for the perennial Pro Bowler, Kyle Juszczyk, who is a free agent in 2021.
49ers Quarterbacks
Lock: Jimmy Garoppolo, Nick Mullens
Strong Bubble: C.J. Beathard
Weak Bubble: none
Long Shot: none
The only question Kyle Shanahan has to answer with regards to his quarterback is whether or not he wants to keep two or three on the regular-season roster.
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Last year, it was three: Jimmy Garoppolo, Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard, which created something of a buzz considering Mullens beat Beathard for the No. 2 job behind Jimmy G. And most teams don’t keep three signal-callers on the 53-man roster.
Shanahan could go this route again, predicated on his actions from the previous year. But if there’s another spot on the roster needing some added depth, it might be a smarter move to free up that roster spot and part ways with Beathard.
Especially with practice squads now increased to 16 players, and four of those spots can be used on players who previously wouldn’t have met eligibility requirements.
Beathard isn’t going to win over Mullens in training camp, barring an incredible turnaround. So the pecking order, even if Shanahan keeps three signal-callers on his roster, will be the same as it was in 2019 with Garoppolo at the helm.
Unless the 49ers bring in some new competition for the sake of it, which is another possibility.