2 players who need to perform during 49ers' preseason Week 1 game vs. Titans

The San Francisco 49ers will face off in the first of three preseason games on Saturday. They will be the guests of the Tennessee Titans in a game that kicks off from Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Aug. 10, starting at 7 p.m. ET.

While a majority of the starters and depth charts appear to be set for the final roster, a number of players could still play their way on or off the team this month.

With news breaking that running back Christian McCaffrey is hurt with a calf injury, he won't be seeing any playing time this preseason. Backups Elijah Mitchell and rookie Isaac Guerendo are also likely to be out with injuries against the Titans, too.

That opens the door for another tailback to make his presence felt.

1. RB Jordan Mason

Opportunity knocks for third-year running back Jordan Mason. In his first two seasons, he has only missed one game.

Mason has had at least 40 carries and 200 yards both years. Used sparringly, he still scored three touchdowns in 2023 compared to just one the year before.

It may be hard to imagine the 49ers keeping more than four running backs on their roster. While Guerendo may benefit from a season in a ultra-reserve role, Mason could benefit from that, too.

With McCaffrey out and potentially both Mitchell and Guerendo, as well, Mason has a chance to shine. By having some big carries, breaking tackles and possibly scoring once or twice, the undrafted athlete may earn a final roster spot with a strong showing.

Mason produced a rushing touchdown in Weeks 5 and 6. In fact, his best game of the season may have been in the 42-10 lopsided win over the Dallas Cowboys.

In that contest, Mason had 69 yards on just 10 carries. A huge chunk of his total yardage came when he recorded a 26-yard rushing score early in the fourth quarter.

Repeating those type of numbers on Saturday in Tennessee surely can help Mason stay on the 53-man roster.

If not, he may struggle to find his name on the depth charts come Week 1 of the new season.

2. LB Dee Winters

In 2023, linebacker Dee Winters was drafted out of TCU in the sixth round. As a rookie last year, Winters played in 15 games but only collected 10 total tackles.

He did not get to see a ton of playing time on the field. Thus, his numbers do not reflect his potential.

In Saturday's game against the Titans, Winters can prove why San Francisco made the right selection when they picked him a year ago.

During the four years he played for TCU, he was in 48 games. Winters was responsible for 246 tackles, 12.5 sacks and 10 passes defended. He also recorded three interceptions and a pair of fumble recoveries.

Winters' last season with TCU saw him collect 79 individual tackles. He also had an incredible pick-six that saw him return an interception for a 29-yard touchdown.

In his second training camp at the pro level, Winters is reportedly shining and showing up all over the field, although it'll be essential for that to carry over into preseason action.

Shining moments will certainly help Winters crack the 53-man roster. If he struggles to make a difference on the field and contribute in a big way, he could be looking further down the depth chart or calling somewhere else home.

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