Who should make the cut as camp winds down?
SANTA ILARA >> Three weeks to go for the 49ers’ season opener. It’s increasingly likely the show will go on amid the coronavirus pandemic, of which the 49ers and NFL seem to have mitigated exposures.
So who will suit up for that Sept.
13 debut against the Arizona Cardinals amid Levi’s Stadium’s desolate stands?
Heading into the final week of training camp practices, here is who I envision making the 53-man roster (16 can go on the practice squad):
Quarterbacks (3)
STARTaR >> Jimmy Garoppolo RaSaRVaS >> Nick Mullens, C.J.
Beathard
ANALYSIS >> Garoppolo is poised
for another big year if he can gain chemistry with targets other than George Kittle. Overthrows in practice are a concern. His knee is not, and he did not wear a brace on it the past three days. Mullens and Beathard are doing fine, nothing spectacular. The COVID-19 cloud rationalizes keeping three QBs on the roster more so this year than last.
Running backs (4)
STARTERS >> Raheem Mostert, Kyle Juszczyk (fullback)
RESERVES >> Tevin Coleman, Jerick McKinnon
CUT LINE >> JaMycal Hasty, Jeff Wilson Jr., Salvon Ahmed, Josh Hokit (FB)
ANALYSIS >> A fifth running back certainly could make it, and undrafted rookie Hasty would be my easy pick with his speed and instincts. Wilson Jr. hasn’t seen many reps and likely could land on the practice squad.
Wide receivers (6)
STARTERS >> Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Trent Taylor
RESERVES >> Kendrick Bourne, Dante Pettis, Jauan Jennings
CUT LINE >> Tavon Austin, J.J. Nelson, Jaron Brown, Shawn Poindexter
NON-FOOTBALL-INJURY LIST >> Richie James Jr. (Note: Samuel is on this list, too, but I think he’ll be off it for Week 1)
ANALYSIS >> Samuel’s foot recovery looks so encouraging he could be in the Week 1 lineup. Otherwise, Bourne is a starter, too, and he pretty much is anyhow considering how Kyle Shanahan rotates his versatile receivers. Taylor’s return is big, and Pettis must show consistency in camp to secure a job. Richie James Jr. (wrist) should be cleared by mid-October. If a sixth receiver makes it, Jennings is the call over Austin. If no sixth receiver, keep Hasty among the running backs.
Tight ends (4)
STARTER >> George Kittle
RESERVES >> Jordan Reed, Ross Dwelley, Charlie Woerner
CUT LINE >> Chase Harrell
ANALYSIS >> Kittle is now justly compensated as the 49ers’ offensive catalyst. Reed did not practice the first week and instead upgraded his conditioning. Dwelley’s foot injury could be an issue, but the 49ers’ likely would go with three tight ends rather than keep a second rookie in Harrell.
Offensive line (9)
STARTERS >> Trent Williams (LT), Laken Tomlinson (LG), Ben Garland (C), Daniel Brunskill (RG), Mike McGlinchey (RT)
RESERVES >> Tom Compton (G), Justin Skule (T), Colton McKivitz (G/T), Jaryd Jones-Smith (T)
CUT LINE >> Hroniss Grasu (C), Ross Reynolds (G/C), Wiliam Sweet (T), Kofi Amichia (G/C)
PHYSICALLY-UNABLE-TO-PERFORM LIST >> Weston Richburg (C)
ANALYSIS >> Assuming Garland’s ankle injury is recovered by Week 1, he’ll likely start there, unless Brunskill shows enough in the ensuing practices. Compton perhaps should start at right guard but I see Brunskill in the lineup at one spot or another. Jones-Smith is a sturdier bookend
than Skule, who started eight games as a 2019 rookie. Two backup tackles aren’t necessary, but they’re more valuable than guards.
Defensive line (9)
STARTERS >> Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, Javon Kinlaw, Dee Ford
RESERVES >> Solomon Thomas, D.J. Jones, Ronald Blair, Kentavius Street, Kerry Hyder
CUT LINE >> Kevin Givens, Dion Jordan, Darrion Daniels, Jonathan Kongbo
PHYSICALLY-UNABLE-TO-PERFORM LIST >> Jullian Taylor
ANALYSIS >> This unit is the 49ers’ prized jewel. Replacing DeForest Buckner (Indianapolis Colts) will take a combined effort led by top draft pick, Kinlaw, along with Jones and a bulkier Thomas. If they want more interior help, Hyder could lose out over Givens, or perhaps Daniels, an undrafted gem.
Linebackers (5)
STARTERS >> Fred Warner, Kwon Alexander, Dre Greenlaw
RESERVES >> Mark Nzeocha, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
CUT LINE >> Azeez Al-Shaair, Joe Walker
ANALYSIS >> Warner will blossom into All-Pro stature this season, and his starting mates are solid. The two or maybe three reserve roles are toss ups, but Nzeocha is a special-teams ace and Flannigan-Fowles has flashed in camp. Hard to cut Al-Shaair, perhaps too hard.
Cornerback (6)
STARTERS >> Richard Sherman, Emmanuel Moseley, K’Waun Williams (nickel)
RESERVES >> Jason Verrett, Ahkello Witherspoon, Jamar Taylor
CUT LINE >> Tim Harris, Dontae Johnson
ANALYSIS >> Right cornerback easily could fluctuate between Moseley, Witherspoon and Verrett, who might be the most exciting choice if his health cooperates. Williams’ calf injury allowed Taylor to get comfortable with the first-string unit, though he’s no lock if the 49ers’ want to give a shot to 2019 draft pick Harris.
Safety (4)
STARTERS >> Jimmie Ward, Jaquiski Tartt
RESERVES >> Tarvarius Moore, Johnathan Cyprien
CUT LINE >> Marcell Harris, Evan Foster, Jaryd Mayden
ANALYSIS >> Cyprien just arrived and must continue to show up strong to unseat Harris.
Specialists (3)
STARTERS >> Robbie Gould (K), Mitch Wishnowsky (P), Kyle Nelson (LS)
ANALYSIS >> Sure is nice to have this tripod set, unlike last year when they burned through three snappers until Nelson finished out a suspension.