49ers roster 2021: Bubble watch ahead of preseason Week 1

49ers Bubble Watch: Defensive Line

Lock: Arik Armstead, Nick Bosa, Samson Ebukam, Dee Ford, D.J. Jones, Javon Kinlaw

Strong Bubble: Kevin Givens, Maurice Hurst, Zach Kerr, Arden Key, Kentavius Street

Weak Bubble: Alex Barrett, Shilique Calhoun, Darrion Daniels, Eddie Vanderdoes

Long Shot: Eddie Yarbrough, Jordan Willis

There are two prime questions surrounding the 49ers defensive line between now and Week 1.

First, can the starting crop including Nick Bosa, Dee Ford and Samson Ebukam all stay healthy? Bosa and Ford have returned from serious 2020 injuries, which is good. But Ebukam has been banged up in training camp, putting his reputation as a fully healthy player in some jeopardy.

Second, assuming the Niners keep eight defensive linemen, who survives roster cuts out of what’s becoming a solid group of depth?

Kentavius Street, the 2018 fourth-round NFL Draft pick who was redshirted his rookie year, has been impressing a lot during camp. So has a veteran free-agent pickup, Maurice Hurst.

Those two are effectively fighting for one spot on the depth chart, while EDGEs like Arden Key and Shilique Calhoun might be needed to bolster the outside pass rush. Probably only one player of those two survive cuts.

Givens might now have the edge over the veteran, Zach Kerr, while EDGE Jordan Willis is going to be suspended for the first six games of 2021 because of a PED violation.

Lots of bodies to sort through here, but the competition has been noteworthy.