49ers roster: 5 players who desperately need a great preseason
By Peter Panacy
No. 4: 49ers offensive lineman Nick Zakelj
It’s got to be tough being a member of the 49ers’ 2022 rookie class, as a playoff-caliber roster means there are relatively few positions up for grabs.
For the Niners’ sixth-round NFL Draft choice, former Fordham offensive lineman Nick Zakelj, his chances of earning a spot on the depth chart have diminished since the opening of training camp.
Granted, San Francisco’s O-line hasn’t exactly been a strength over the last two-plus weeks, especially the interior, so Zakelj should have had the opportunity to assert himself and separate from some of the other reserves vying for backup duties.
Instead, the most promising rookie linemen in camp have been fourth-rounder Spencer Burford and the undrafted free agent, Jason Poe, who both appear well ahead of Zakelj on the depth chart right now.
As far as one-on-one matchups have gone in camp, Zakelj is usually on the losing end of reps against 49ers B-list pass-rushers, mainly, which won’t bode well for his roster chances at all.
Unless the small-school lineman displays some serious improvement in actual game situations, he might be looking at a practice-squad designation for his rookie-year ceiling.