The 49ers had an active Sunday as they filled out seven of the eight spots on their practice squad, added QB Scott Tolzien via waiver claim, and ended the night by agreeing to terms with former Ravens linebacker Tavares Gooden. The Gooden signing hasn't had pen to paper yet, but it should get wrapped up today.
The Gooden signing becomes official once the 49ers release another player to balance out the 53-man roster. Folks are thinking Colin Jones is the likely option to be released in part because Gooden can handle special teams contributions alongside his reserve linebacker role (Branch, Lam). If Jones is only sticking around because of special teams contributions, he would seem to be most likely on the bubble. We'll likely find out the decision later this morning.
In looking over the remaining roster, the question this week becomes what players will fill in the 46-man active roster. It used to be a 45-man active roster with one emergency QB listed as inactive, but the league has changed the rule now to a strictly 46-man active roster and no more inactive "emergency QB."
The seven inactives will change many weeks in part because injuries affect whether some are inactive in a given week. This week is a good example as we could see both Reggie Smith and Shawntae Spencer inactive if they are not sufficiently recovered by this weekend. Michael Person is a likely inactive player, and Daniel Kilgore might be as well depending on how comfortable the team is with only Adam Snyder and Alex Boone as backup offensive linemen.
I wouldn't be surprised if Scott Tolzien was inactive given that he is just now learning the playbook. Although that leaves the 49ers with just Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick and that is quite a roll of the dice.
That puts us at a maximum of five players, thus needing two more inactives. I'd imagine one of either Demarcus Dobbs or Will Tukuafu is number six and for this first week, maybe Tavares Gooden as well since he too is just learning the playbook. There's also the question of whether Michael Crabtree is good to go by Sunday. He is off the PUP list and not wearing a boot on his injured foot anymore, but there is no other word on his status.
I've posted the 53-man roster (set at 54 until someone is released in place of Gooden) after the jump, so check it out and let us know who could be inactive this weekend.
53-MAN ROSTER
QB (3): Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick, Scott Tolzien
RB (3): Frank Gore, Anthony Dixon, Kendall Hunter
FB (2): Moran Norris, Bruce Miller
TE (2): Vernon Davis, Delanie Walker
WR (5): Braylon Edwards, Michael Crabtree, Josh Morgan, Kyle Williams, Ted Ginn
OT (3): Joe Staley, Anthony Davis, Alex Boone
OG (5): Mike Iupati, Chilo Rachal, Adam Snyder, Daniel Kilgore, Mike Person
C (1): Jonathan Goodwin
NT (2): Isaac Sopoaga, Ian Williams
DE (5): Justin Smith, Ray McDonald, Ricky Jean Francois, Demarcus Dobbs, Will Tukuafu
OLB (4): Aldon Smith, Parys Haralson, Ahmad Brooks, Antwan Applewhite
ILB (5): Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman, Larry Grant, Blake Costanzo, Tavares Gooden
CB (5): Carlos Rogers, Shawntae Spencer, Tarell Brown, Chris Culliver, Tramaine Brock
S (6): Dashon Goldson, Donte Whitner, Reggie Smith, Madieu Williams, C.J. Spillman, Colin Jones
K (1): David Akers
P (1): Andy Lee
LOS (1): Brian Jennings
PRACTICE SQUAD
C Chase Beeler
TE Konrad Reuland
WR Joe Hastings
OL Derek Hall
CB Cory Nelms
OLB Monte Simmons
RB Xavier Omon