49ers vs. Raiders: 3 bubble players who improved roster chances

No. 3: 49ers Center Jake Brendel

Yes, reserve center Jake Brendel had one major mistake during his extended reps on the field in relief of the starter, Alex Mack, snapping the ball low to Trey Lance and resulting in the rookie quarterback trying to scramble to both avoid taking a hit and making something out of nothing.

Other than that, however, Brendel showcased himself relatively well, moving from the interior on run plays while also holding his own in pass protection.

But what makes Brendel an better commodity for San Francisco to keep around is the fact the team doesn’t have a true backup center to Mack for the regular season. If presumed starting right guard Daniel Brunskill lost the training camp competition to rookie lineman Aaron Banks, Brunskill likely would have served as Mack’s primary backup.

With Brunskill likely starting now, though, there’s a need to have someone serve as Mack’s backup.

It’s likely Brendel easily beat out his primary preseason competition, Dakoda Shepley, and it wouldn’t be a shocker at all to see the former named to the 53-man roster as one of probably four reserve offensive linemen on the 49ers’ regular-season squad.