The San Francisco 49ers beat the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday in their preseason opener, coming from behind in a fourth quarter matchup of third and fourth string players. The 49ers starters did not have the greatest of performances against Alex Smith and the Chiefs defense, but there were some positives to take away further down the roster.
We’re into the second game week of the preseason, and Thursday marked the final open day of training camp. The team will continue practicing, but this is the last practice open to the media until next spring’s offseason workout program. With that in mind, it is time for another 53-man roster projection. We will have one next week, and two the following week (leading up to the final preseason game, and the day after the final preseason game. Here’s last week’s leading up to the Chiefs game.
Changes to this one include:
In: WR Kendrick Bourne; Out: Victor Bolden - The sixth wide receiver role is a wide open competition, and Bourne made a strong first game case for the job. He needs to build on his big game against the Chiefs, but he strikes me as the front-runner.
In: Vance McDonald; Out: Cole Hikutini - I go back and forth on what might happen at tight end. I really could see McDonald traded, but if he is not traded by the roster cuts, I think he sticks around. Sorry Germ, I think this means I am no longer “a gem of a man.”
In: Tim Barnes; Out: Jeremy Zuttah - The 49ers released Zuttah, and Barnes is getting center and guard work. He’s sticking around.
I did not swap out C.J. Beathard for Matt Barkley yet, but if Beathard shows up well against the Broncos, that might change. If the 49ers make Beathard the clear No. 2 by the end training camp, they will not keep Barkley, thus opening up a roster spot. For now though, I’m sticking with three quarterbacks.
QB (3): Brian Hoyer, Matt Barkley, C.J. Beathard
RB (4): Carlos Hyde, Tim Hightower, Joe Williams, Matt Breida
FB (1): Kyle Juszczyk
WR (6): Pierre Garçon, Marquise Goodwin, Jeremy Kerley, Aldrick Robinson, Trent Taylor, Kendrick Bourne
TE (3): George Kittle, Logan Paulsen, Vance McDonald
OT (3): Joe Staley, Trent Brown, Garry Gilliam
OG (3): Zane Beadles, Brandon Fusco, Joshua Garnett
C (2): Daniel Kilgore, Tim Barnes
DT (5): DeForest Buckner, Earl Mitchell, D.J. Jones, Tank Carradine, Quinton Dial
DE (4): Arik Armstead, Solomon Thomas, Elvis Dumervil, Aaron Lynch
OLB (3): Ahmad Brooks, Eli Harold, Dekoda Watson
MLB (4): NaVorro Bowman, Reuben Foster, Ray Ray Armstrong Brock Coyle
CB (5): Rashard Robinson, Keith Reaser, Ahkello Witherspoon, Dontae Johnson, K’Waun Williams
S (4): Jimmie Ward, Eric Reid, Jaquiski Tartt, Lorenzo Jerome
K (1): Robbie Gould
P (1): Bradley Pinion
LS (1): Kyle Nelson
Injured reserve: LB Malcolm Smith, S Chanceller James, LB Jayson DiManche, LB Jimmie Gilbert, WR BJ Johnson III, LB Donavin Newsom