49ers' 2023 preseason is over, these players are on the roster bubble (and these players are safe)

Niner Noise conducts a final roster-bubble analysis with the 49ers' preseason finale in the books and Week 1 just around the corner.

In case anyone was counting, the San Francisco 49ers went 1-2 during their 2023 preseason campaign with a victory over the Denver Broncos, bookmarked by losses versus the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers.

Those games don't matter, though, right?

Well, sort of. To the individual players, particularly those on the fringes of the offseason roster, preseason games mean a world of difference. One strong outing in an exhibition game can secure a roster spot, while a single gaffe on one snap can translate into being out of the NFL entirely only a few days later.

On Tuesday, Aug. 29, each team has to trim its offseason rosters down from 90 players to 53, and the Niners will be faced with plenty of their own tough choices, one of which was already made with the blockbuster trade of quarterback Trey Lance to the Dallas Cowboys.

That move, combined with some injuries, shakes up what was our previous bubble-watch report from earlier in the preseason.

Now, with roster cuts looming, let's look at who's on the bubble and who's safe, using the standard criteria we always use:

• Lock: Barring injury or something crazy, you're not going anywhere
• Strong bubble: Can't quite call you a lock, but things are looking pretty good
• Weak bubble: A whole heck of a lot has to go your way to make the cut
• Long shot: Don't go away angry, just go away

Normally, we kick this off on special teams where there's never any drama.

But there is now, unfortunately, and it's not of the good variety.

* denotes rookie

All salary cap and contractual information, courtesy of Over the Cap.