The San Francisco 49ers cut down their roster from 90 players to 75 players on Monday evening. They had until 1 p.m. PT on Tuesday, but there was no need to wait. The team placed seven players on the NFI and PUP lists, waived six players, and released one. Here is a list of the 15 roster moves:
Waived
QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson
S
WR
Released (vested veteran)
WR
RB Marcus Lattimore
FB Trey Millard
CB Keith Reaser
OG Brandon Thomas
PUP list
LB NaVorro Bowman
TE Garrett Celek
DT Kaleb Ramsey
The first set of cuts do not tell us a lot about the team given that the first few guys were long shots to make the 53-man roster in the first place. However, some of these 15 transactions give us a few thoughts to consider.
Backup Quarterback
Heading into camp, I figured McLeod Bethel-Thompson had a good chance of earning a practice squad spot, and maybe he could snag the third QB role. I still think the 49ers only carry two QBs, but if there is a third, it will be either Josh Johnson or Blaine Gabbert. McBLT has practice squad eligibility, and the 49ers could certainly use a practice squad QB. But is it possible the 49ers eventually add Kory Faulkner instead? I have no reason to think this is a certainty, but it would not surprise me.
Practice Squad
All seven players waived are eligible for the practice squad. I included McBLT on the practice squad in my last roster projection, and it is still possible. The rest of that group does not do much to excite me. David Reed is NOT eligible for the practice squad.
Running Back
The 49ers decision to waive Jewel Hampton is not shocking, but given that he spent all last year on the practice squad, it is a little bit surprising. However, as we saw this past Sunday, it would seem both Alfonso Smith and Glenn Winston have moved past Hampton in the 49ers eyes. Smith does not have practice squad eligibility, while Winston does have eligibility. If Winston is waived during final cuts, barring a claim by another team, he may have earned a ticket to the practice squad.
The wait continues
The two most notable players added to the PUP and NFI lists were NaVorro Bowman and Marcus Lattimore. Neither is a surprise, although most of us were hoping Lattimore could get on the active roster in training camp. He will continue rehabbing for a minimum of six more weeks, at which point he can start practicing again. It really is impossible to tell what his timeline is for returning, so I won't even begin to guess.
Bowman will be eligible to practice after six weeks, but odds are pretty good his PUP list stint is a little longer. There has been talk of a mid-to-late season return for Bowman. Some have suggested after the bye week, others have said December, and others are somewhere in between. My guess is late November. I do think the 49ers can withstand the loss and still win enough ball games. If Wilhoite, Borland and/or Moody are solid in his place and the defense is playing well, I have to think the 49ers are especially conservative in bring him back. I don't think they'll ever be aggressive with it, but they could be even more conservative than some expect if his replacements buy him some time.
Is there anything else you take away from these initial roster cuts?
QB Colin Kaepernick QB Blaine Gabbert QB Josh Johnson RB Frank Gore RB LaMichael James RB Carlos Hyde RB Alfonso Smith RB Glenn Winston FB Bruce Miller FB Will Tukuafu WR Michael Crabtree WR Anquan Boldin WR Quinton Patton WR Brandon Lloyd WR Stevie Johnson WR Bruce Ellington WR Kassim Osgood WR L'Damian Washington WR Lance Lewis |
TE Vernon Davis TE Vance McDonald TE Derek Carrier TE Asante Cleveland OT Joe Staley OT Anthony Davis OT Carter Bykowski OT Jonathan Martin OT Michael Philipp OG Mike Iupati OG Adam Snyder OG Joe Looney OG Al Netter OG Ryan Seymour C Daniel Kilgore C Marcus Martin C Dillon Farrell |
DL Justin Smith OLB Aldon Smith |
CB Tramaine Brock |