There were several fringe players who boosted their roster stock during the San Francisco 49ers' preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night.
Defensive tackle C.J. West was not one of them.
The second-year pro received a team-low 30.0 overall game grade from Pro Football Focus, thanks to several incidents where he either missed tackles, was pushed out of the play or was a complete non-factor.
Despite receiving plenty of hype for being an interior pocket wrecker when drafted a year ago, West's brief tenure with the Niners hasn't exactly gone well.
And Thursday night didn't do him any favors, which could subsequently lead to a premature dismissal from the roster between now and Week 1.
C.J. West endangered his 49ers roster chances with shoddy performance vs. Raiders
West hasn't exactly had the best training camp, and his preseason efforts didn't exactly jump off the page either.
When looking at specific plays where the defensive tackle is getting worked by third- and fourth-string blockers, it's safe to assume San Francisco is quickly running out of patience with him.
Another indicator of West's precarious spot on the depth chart stems from San Francisco's several moves to beef up the interior of its defensive line—the trade for veteran Osa Odighizuwa and drafting Gracen Halton both put the former on the bubble.
True, fellow second-year defensive tackle Alfred Collins hasn't looked sharp this preseason either, but being a second-round pick, the 49ers are assuredly going to be more patient with his development and maturation than West.
And it's possible the Niners make the 2025 fourth-round pick part of their pre-Week 1 roster cuts, assuming they've seen enough.
Judging by the tape and analysis, they likely have.
Injuries may be C.J. West's only savior for a 49ers roster spot
If there's one thing working in West's favor right now, it's the fact San Francisco is banged up, including on the interior of its D-line.
Both Collins and Halton were nicked up during camp and in the preseason, and relying on undrafted rookie Bryson Eason or a fringe defender like Sebastian Valdez might not be the best strategy.
From that perspective, the 49ers may be inclined to retain West until it's assured both Collins and Halton are at 100 percent.
After that, though, West's future is surely in doubt.
It'd be frustrating to give up on a prospect who had a lot of promise only just a year ago, but the reality for West is he probably won't be a critical cog in the Niners' D-line rotation for much longer.
And that decision could be as soon as roster cuts.
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