Justin Skule ruined his roster chances in 49ers preseason win vs. Vikings

The 49ers should be running out of patience with reserve lineman Justin Skule, whose poor performance versus the Vikings endangers his roster chances.

The San Francisco 49ers had plenty of positive standouts from their 17-7 preseason victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

Yet there were problems, too, including another shoddy effort from a patchwork offensive line that surrendered plenty of pressure to the Niners’ two backup quarterbacks who played in the game, Nate Sudfeld and Brock Purdy.

Perhaps the biggest O-line liability Saturday night was fourth-year pro Justin Skule.

In fairness to Skule, not only is he trying to work his way back after missing all of 2021 with an ACL tear, but apparently, he was also hobbled with an ankle injury during the game.

Still, Skule did not look sharp despite getting the start at left tackle.

A week after surrendering two sacks in San Francisco’s preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers, Skule had one particular two-play drive that won’t endear him to head coach Kyle Shanahan.

On 3rd-and-9 at the 49ers’ own 36-yard line late in the first quarter, Skule was slapped with a false-start penalty, which led to a 3rd-and-14 deep within Niners territory. And on the very next play, Skule completely whiffed on a block against Vikings EDGE D.J. Wonnum, which led to a rushed incomplete pass off the hand of Sudfeld.

Indeed, San Francisco went with veteran lineman Jordan Mills for much of the rest of the game even though Mills was only signed in the middle of training camp.

As for Skule, he might be looking at the end of his tenure with the 49ers directly ahead.

49ers appear to have bumped Justin Skule down the depth chart

One of the interesting notes about Saturday’s matchup, in light of Kyle Shanahan resting the vast majority of his starters and even some of his primary backups, is the fact fellow reserve lineman Colton McKivitz didn’t suit up for the contest.

McKivitz, who bounced back and forth off the practice squad and active roster last season, seems to be ahead of Skule on the O-line depth chart in light of that news bit.

And Saturday night could have been intended as an opportunity for Skule to bounce back after a rough Week 1 of the preseason.

Related Story: Poor performances vs. Vikings could doom these Niners’ roster chances

He would have needed to do so, especially after such a bad showing against Green Bay and what had mostly been a lackluster training camp, too.

Additionally, the Niners spending two 2022 NFL Draft picks on offensive linemen, Spencer Burford and Nick Zakelj, doesn’t exactly display a ringing endorsement for Skule’s chances to make the 53-man roster.

The next step, of course, is whether or not Skule can clear San Francisco’s next round of roster cuts, which happen no later than Tuesday, Aug. 23 at 4 p.m. ET, when the current crop of 85 players needs to be trimmed down to 80.

Skule could theoretically survive that round of cuts, but he now faces the longest of odds to make it to Week 1.