49ers roster: 5 players on thin ice entering training camp

49ers thin-ice player No. 1: Defensive back Tarvarius Moore

You might be forgiven if you forgot San Francisco’s third-round pick from the 2018 NFL Draft, defensive back Tarvarius Moore, is still on the roster.

Well, he is after missing all of 2021 in the wake of suffering a torn Achilles during the previous offseason.

Despite the 49ers bidding farewell to their long-time starting strong safety, Jaquiski Tartt, it looks as if Moore could easily be a victim of the numbers game. For starters, literally speaking, the Niners have been letting second-year pro Talanoa Hufanga run with the first-team unit, then giving an offseason free-agent pickup, George Odum, second-team reps. On top of all that, the inevitable Dontae Johnson also saw time at safety during offseason workouts, too.

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Now, the Niners could feasibly deploy Moore once again as a big-nickel defender when they use three-safety sets, which is what he did a lot back in 2019 and 2020 before the injury.

However, should San Francisco decide to save that roster spot for another position is more valuable, it’s hard to envision a scenario where Moore winds up securing a backup spot once again.

He’ll first have to prove he’s fully healthy in the wake of last year’s injury. Then, Moore will likely have to beat out someone like Johnson or even another undrafted rookie, Leon O’Neal Jr., to stand a fighting chance.