5 questions 49ers must answer in preseason game vs. Chargers

No. 4: Should Nsimba Webster be 49ers’ primary return specialist?

The Niners listed and used wide receiver Richie James as their first-team kickoff return specialist against the Chiefs, although James’ security for the 53-man roster this season took a hit after he dropped one of Trey Lance’s 14 pass attempts.

James has been struggling with drops for much of training camp anyway. And considering Kyle Shanahan has scantly used the fourth-year pro on offense, it’s safe to say the head coach is already mulling over the idea of an upgrade.

The possibility of a back-end wide receiver shakeup, particularly impacted by the return game, didn’t get any quieter with the preseason Week 1 emergence of the recently acquired Nsimba Webster, who not only impressed on three kickoff returns, one of them going for 43 yards, but also because of his two catches for 18 yards and one rush for 34 yards.

That gadget-type usage is something indicative of Shanahan’s “positionless” offense we’ve seen over the years as of late, and one doesn’t have to think too hard about James being in danger of losing his roster spot to Webster now.

Another strong game from Webster, both on offense and in the return game, could spell disaster for James’ roster chances.

But it could also open up to an intriguing back-of-the-roster option for a player like Webster.