Sports: Profar’s 3-hit, 3-RBI day propels A’s.
Bevy of WRs among question marks heading into cutdown
Not all questions got answered through a 49ers exhibition season that came to a rest Thursday night.
This goes way beyond any intrigue whether coach Kyle Shanahan could wrap up a 4- 0 exhibition slate. And it didn’t it matter that the 49ers suited up only 54 of 90 players to face the Los Angeles Chargers.
Here are lingering questions as the 49ers shift their attention to Saturday’s 53-man roster deadline (1 p.m.) and their Sept. 8 regularseason opener at Tampa Bay: WHICH WIDE RECEIVERS STAY, AND WHO IS NO. 1? » When eight wide receivers are reasonable options, it’s a sign of few separating themselves from the pack. Shanahan has yet to name his starters — Marquise Goodwin, Dante Pettis and Deebo Samuel are the favorites — or whether the roster can
handle six or even seven receivers.
Samuel and Jalen Hurd, second- and third-round picks, look like future cornerstones, although Hurd’s health has been in question since the spring (knee) to now ( back tightness). Shanahan has dared Pettis to emerge as a second-year star, and Goodwin is the most accomplished and fastest receiver in this system.
Beyond that? Kendrick Bourne had another drop Thursday, then redeemed himself with a diving touchdown catch. If he and Richie James Jr. deserve to stick, why were the 49ers compelled to draft new receivers and add veteran Jordan Matthews? James, who offers return ability, started Thursday with Samuel. Matthews played in an exhibition finale for the first time in his six-year career. Kept out were Goodwin, Pettis, Taylor and Hurd. HOW TRULY IMPROVED IS THE PASS RUSH? » Dee Ford and Nick Bosa did not play in any exhibition, for precautionary and health reasons. Their impact as dominant edge rushers won’t be unleashed until the regular season.
Ford is relieved to have gone through treatment for knee tendinitis, and the 49ers are relieved Bosa’s high-ankle sprain is improving so well he might join Ford in the Week 1 defensive rotation. Bosa walked on the field pregame without an ankle brace.
Their stunt doubles in exhibition action included Damontre Moore, Jeremiah Valoaga, Jay Bromley and Jamell Garcia-Williams. As the season starts, the defensive linemen fans should salivate to see are Ford, Bosa, DeForest Buckner, Arik Armstead and Solomon Thomas — all former first-round picks who must deliver for a 2019 turnaround. HOW STABLE IS JIMMY GAROPPOLO’S NEW KNEE? » Even Garoppolo acknowledges he won’t truly know how his reconstructed left knee reacts until the regular season unfolds, when pass rushers and defensive coordinators fully come after him.
Interceptions and deflected passes in practices and exhibitions were not a great sign but not too alarming. Garoppolo’s leg appeared fine rolling out of the pocket, disguising playaction snaps with 360- degree spins, and maintaining a heavy workload. Stepping into throws could take several games before he gets used to that again.
His injury can serve as an excuse for only so long, same with his limited track record (10 career starts).
As to who will be his backup, it looks like Nick Mullens over C. J. Beathard, the latter of whom started Thursday’s finale after not playing in Saturday’s exhibition at Kansas City. Beathard’s first series ended with a fourth-down incompletion, but, hey, he threw a heck of a down-field block on Jeff Wilson Jr.’s TD run. SAME SECONDARY, DIFFERENT RESULTS? » Setting NFL records for futility with two interceptions and seven takeaways did not prompt the 49ers to overhaul their secondary. Entering the second half of Thursday’s finale, the 49ers had only one interception in the exhibition season (by Dontae Johnson). So much talk all offseason and training camp has been how a better pass rush will reflect better on defensive backs.
Cornerback Richard Sherman, 31, may be healthier than last year, but quarterbacks still will pick on other defensive backs such as Ahkello Witherspoon and nickel back K’Waun Williams. One potential twist: Jimmie Ward, if healthy, adds play-making spice as a rover at free safety or slot cornerback. Speedster Tarvarius Moore could thrive in the “eraser” role at free safety. Backup safeties Marcell Harris and Antone Exum struggled Thursday.
Jason Verrett is a wild card in this, assuming he makes Saturday’s roster, as general manager John Lynch intimated Verrett would. Verrett did not last a week in camp with the first-string defense before sustaining an ankle injury. If healthy ( like Ward), Verrett has the tenacity the 49ers secondary craves. WHAT CAN JERICK MCKINNON OFFER? » We may never know. It’s been over a year since McKinnon’s right knee was healthy enough to fully practice, and his comeback is in serious doubt after Tuesday’s latest setback; he slowly walked out in sweats to watch for Thursday’s warmups.