49ers roster: 5 players who’ll be cut by 2021 season’s end
By Peter Panacy
No. 4: 49ers Offensive Lineman Jake Brendel
Raise your hand if you forgot reserve offensive lineman Jake Brendel was still on San Francisco’s 53-man roster.
It does make some sense to keep him there. Brendel is effectively the lone true center to back up the starting veteran, Alex Mack, and the 49ers’ other contingency options are almost entirely built upon starting right guard Daniel Brunskill potentially needing to move over one spot to his left if Mack misses an extended period of time.
Brendel has been active ever since Week 1 but has taken only one offensive snap this season with the rest of his duties coming on special teams.
Still, that might not be enough to save him from a potential cut between now and the end of the season, considering the Niners may need to free up a roster spot to address other needs and with the knowledge some potential shuffling of the interior O-line still affords Brunskill the ability to serve as Mack’s backup.
Plus, it’s hard seeing any other team placing a waiver claim on Brendel this deep into the season, meaning he’ll likely wind up reverting back onto San Francisco’s practice squad.