Niner Noise
FanSided

SF 49ers final 53-man roster projection ahead of Week 1

By Robert Morrison

Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers (R) with general manager John Lynch (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers (R) with general manager John Lynch (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Fred Warner, 49ers
Fred Warner #54 of the SF 49ers celebrates (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

SF 49ers Linebackers (5)

OLB Kwon Alexander

OLB Dre Greenlaw

MLB Fred Warner

LB Mark Nzeocha

LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles

The recent announcement that budding superstar linebacker Fred Warner was added to the SF 49ers COVID-19 list did not have any impact on the eventual roster moves that the team will make as it relates directly to Warner. The former BYU standout is making the team, even if his Week 1 availability now may be in question.

Adding to that is the news that second-year linebacker Dre Greenlaw is in the concussion protocol, and the group, often considered one of the best units of its kind in the league, is looking thinner heading into the season opener.

But again, Warner and Greenlaw were roster locks, so these setbacks mean more for what the team chooses to do behind them rather than what to do about the two starters. Also locked in is Kwon Alexander, who looks ready to bounce back from an injury-riddled first year with the 49ers to prove that the team brought him in for good reason.

The depth is more difficult, but look for veteran Mark Nzeocha, who is a stellar member of the special teams unit, to be back for another season in San Francisco.

This leaves like one spot for another player who can mostly play special teams, but can also step in on defense in case of emergency, something that may become reality sooner than anyone would like.

Last season, that role went to rookie Azeez Al-Shaair, but he’s underwhelmed a bit in training camp but could stick around on the practice squad if he doesn’t crack the final roster.

In this case, the nod goes to Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, who spent last season on the practice squad before ending the year with an injury. A former safety at Arizona, Flannigan-Fowles would be athletic enough to fit the bill at special teams as he continues to grow at the linebacker position.