49ers roster: Predicting which players get booted in 2nd wave of cuts

The 49ers have to trim five more players after Week 2 of the preseason, inching closer to the eventual 53 man roster Kyle Shanahan will announce before the regular season.

By late afternoon on Tuesday, Aug. 23, five more members of the San Francisco 49ers will turn into former members, as that date at 4 p.m. ET will mark the next cut-down phase for all 32 teams to trim preseason rosters from 85 players to 80.

We already (inaccurately) tried predicting whom the Niners would let go in the first wave shortly after the exhibition Week 1 victory over the Green Bay Packers back on Aug. 12.

Turns out, head coach Kyle Shanahan had his own plans, electing to part ways with the following players instead:

• DL Robert Nkemdiche
• CB Darqueze Dennard
• FB Josh Hokit
• WR KeeSean Johnson
• DL Tomasi Laulile

Dennard and Hokit were a bit of a surprise, particularly the former who was competing for the starting nickel cornerback role. Yet rookie defensive back Samuel Womack’s two-interception NFL debut stamped out Dennard’s chances.

Now, heading into the second tier of roster cuts, Shanahan has both two days’ joint practices with the Minnesota Vikings, plus San Francisco’s 17-7 exhibition win over Minnesota on Saturday night as additional evidence.

It’s possible the 49ers part ways with a veteran player or two who doesn’t fit into their immediate plans for 2022 but might have a solid shot at signing on with another team, essentially getting a jump start on newfound free agency.

At any rate, here are some additional predictions for this wave of roster cuts, and we hope we’re a bit more accurate this time around.

49ers cut candidate No. 5: WR Austin Mack

Saturday night was a bit of a tough break for third-year pro wide receiver Austin Mack, who exited with a hamstring injury and didn’t return.

Mack was facing an uphill battle anyway with Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Ray-Ray McCloud and Danny Gray all but guaranteed roster spots, and it’s likely fellow wideout Tay Martin earns a sixth spot on the depth chart if Shanahan keeps that many.

Because of the injury, the Niners may have to use a waived/injured designation on Mack, which means he could slip through to an injured-reserve list if no other team claims him.

49ers cut candidate No. 4: TE Ross Dwelley

Going with something of a bold prediction here, as tight end Ross Dwelley has been an admirable backup to All-Pro George Kittle the last few years, although Dwelley did fall out of favor a bit in 2021 while fellow tight end Charlie Woerner ended up surpassing him in field time.

San Francisco currently has six tight ends on the 85-man roster, meaning at least two have to go. And with fellow tight ends like Tanner Hudson and Tyler Kroft impressing this preseason, Dwelley might easily be an odd man out.

Considering Dwelley has made a positive impact with the 49ers, especially in 2020, they might elect to do him a bit of a favor by releasing him early so he can latch on with another team before the all-out free-agent frenzy after final roster cuts takes place on Aug. 30.

49ers cut candidate No. 3: OL Justin Skule

There’s no other way to say it: Backup offensive lineman Justin Skule has had a rough go of things since coming back from the torn ACL he suffered last year.

Struggling during training camp and having back-to-back bad preseason performances, Skule is rapidly losing a spot on the depth chart, and it’s likely the Niners have long removed him from consideration as a primary swing tackle in direct support of starters Trent Williams and Mike McGlinchey.

Right now, third-year pro Colton McKivitz appears to be ahead of Skule on the depth chart, and even recently added Jordan Mills has taken over more time in preseason games.

Skule, having been something of a liability on the field these last two games, might actually risk injury to a quarterback like Trey Lance if they’re on the field at the same time.

San Francisco wants to avoid that at all costs.

49ers cut candidate No. 2: LB Segun Olubi

Like the wide receiver room, there are a number of linebackers who’ll have no business surpassing what’s already a pretty-much-established 53-man roster crop consisting of Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, Azeez Al-Shaair and George Odum, the latter being a free-agent pickup this offseason to beef up special teams.

Depth linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles has had a strong preseason, too, and the 49ers value his versatility.

This isn’t particularly good news for undrafted rookie Segun Olubi, who hasn’t exactly popped on the television screen over these last two games, unlike fellow undrafted free agent Jeremiah Gemmel, who did make a showing with a near pass breakup late in the fourth quarter against Minnesota.

Olubi has essentially turned into a forgotten player by this point, meaning he’s likely headed towards an early waived designation.

49ers cut candidate No. 1: DL Akeem Spence

You’d be forgiven if you forgot veteran defensive lineman Akeem Spence was actually on the Niners roster.

A recent addition to the squad in the wake of San Francisco losing D-lineman Maurice Hurst to a season-ending biceps tear, Spence is one of those players brought in to round out the depth chart during camp practices and in preseason games.

However, given the 49ers have rested nearly all of their starting D-linemen this preseason and also have a good array of quality reserves to supplement the rotation, there’s simply not going to be any room to keep Spence around.

Understanding Spence still has some value out there on the open market, the Niners likely do him a bit of a favor by releasing the nine-year veteran now so he can get an early start on trying to latch on with another team before the regular season begins.

San Francisco, as well as every other team in the league, has to have its 80-man roster announced no later than Tuesday, Aug. 23 by 4 p.m. ET, and the final 53-man roster ahead of the regular season must be announced by Tuesday, Aug. 30.