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Fooch's update: The first roster cuts are in.
The close of the Week 3 of the preseason means it is time for teams to cut down to 75 players. The 49ers will need to release some players to get to this number, but they will also clear some space by moving players to the various injury lists. We discussed this last week, but I figured I'd go into some more detail with cuts just around the corner.
The 49ers currently have seven players combined on the Active/NFI and Active/PUP lists. The 49ers will be allowed to move any or all of those players to the Reserve/NFI or Reserve/PUP list. That removes them from the 90-man roster, and means they would then be ineligible to practice for at least the first six weeks of the season. This group includes:
PUP: NaVorro Bowman, Garrett Celek, Kaleb Ramsey
NFI: Marcus Lattimore, Trey Millard, Keith Reaser, Brandon Thomas
We have heard no update on Celek's injured back (a disc issue, per Harbaugh), so the odds seem pretty good that he will end up on the early season PUP list. it would not be surprising to see all seven of these players transferred to the Reserve lists. If that happens, the 49ers will only need to release eight players to get down to 75 players.
Looking at the current 49ers roster, it's time for some updated projections for these first cuts. Last week I had included Glenn Winston and Colton Schmidt. Given that Phil Dawson injured his leg briefly on Sunday, Schmidt earns the reprieve. Dawson injured his leg in the first half, and while he was able to kick field goals before the start of the second half (including hitting one from 49 yards), it makes sense to rest him the final week.
Winston showed enough on Sunday that I see no reason to release him before the final preseason game. Additionally, L'Damian Washington could earn a practice squad spot, so I think he gets one more opportunity. Here are my first eight cuts. David Reed has looked fairly solid so he could very well have a chance to stick around. Two wild cards in this are Will Tukuafu (concussion) and Bubba Ventrone (hamstring). It is possible the 49ers figure out an injury settlement with them to clear a roster spot. Given the short week, I could see it being Tukuafu. David Reed looked pretty good on Sunday, so I think he gets one more opportunity.
Will Tukuafu
Lance Lewis
Kevin Greene
Michael Philipp
Al Netter
Kion Wilson
D.J. Campbell
Kyle Nelson
| QB Colin Kaepernick QB Blaine Gabbert QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson QB Josh Johnson RB Frank Gore RB LaMichael James RB Jewel Hampton RB Marcus Lattimore RB Carlos Hyde RB Alfonso Smith RB Glenn Winston FB Bruce Miller FB Will Tukuafu FB Trey Millard WR Michael Crabtree WR Anquan Boldin WR Quinton Patton WR Brandon Lloyd WR Stevie Johnson WR Bruce Ellington WR Kassim Osgood WR David Reed WR Devon Wylie WR L'Damian Washington WR Lance Lewis |
TE Vernon Davis TE Vance McDonald TE Garrett Celek TE Derek Carrier TE Asante Cleveland TE Kevin Greene 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 OG Brandon Thomas C Daniel Kilgore C Marcus Martin C Dillon Farrell |
DL Justin Smith OLB Aldon Smith |
CB Tramaine Brock CB Chris Culliver CB Perrish Cox CB Darryl Morris CB Chris Cook CB Jimmie Ward CB Dontae Johnson CB Keith Reaser CB Kenneth Acker S Eric Reid S Antoine Bethea S Craig Dahl S C.J. Spillman S Raymond Ventrone S D.J. Campbell S James McCray K Phil Dawson P Andy Lee P Colton Schmidt LS Kevin McDermott LS Kyle Nelson |