49ers roster: 5 players who are playing themselves off the team

No. 1: 49ers Tight End Ross Dwelley

Up until this point, all the names have more or less made sense for an inevitable cut.

The last player on this list, tight end Ross Dwelley, is more of an anomaly.

That said, it’s clear the primary backup to All-Pro tight end George Kittle this season is second-year pro Charlie Woerner, who is going from a third-string blocking-only option into a modest receiving threat.

And with Kittle landing on injured reserve with a calf injury, it’s been Woerner who has benefited the most as the primary go-to option at the position, not Dwelley.

Particularly in light of these shocking snap-count totals from Week 8:

Both backup tight ends have four receptions on five targets this season, Dwelley getting a slight edge in the touchdown department with one in 2021. Yet the recent trend suggests the 49ers are leaning strongly towards Woerner for both immediate needs and potentially the long-term picture.

Especially considering Dwelley offers very little in the blocking department, whereas Woerner does.

It’s surely possible the Niners retain Dwelley as another option at the position for the rest of the year, but it also wouldn’t be a shocker to see San Francisco make Dwelley an excess commodity either.