Every year, bubble players are fighting for a spot on the 53-man roster. Most of those decisions come down to special-teams play and whether head coach Kyle Shanahan believes the player could be stashed on the practice squad.
Here are some of those groups this year.
Starting left guard
This is the most significant battle in camp. It involves protecting the starting quarterback, and poor play on the interior of the offensive line has led to Super Bowl losses.
The three players generally cited as main competitors are journeyman Robert Jones, who played for the Miami Dolphins last year, second-year player Connor Colby, and rookie Carver Willis. Jones is currently out with an injury and has been a career backup. When he has been on the field, Willis has not looked good. Colby, who started a few games last year, has played at both guard spots and has been average at best.
This is a very shaky group and does not bode well for the 2026 season. At this point, the leader is likely Colby, but he's a reluctant choice. It is telling that even this late in training camp, Shanahan has said the competition is still open.
When asked if things could go into the regular season, Shanahan replied, "Possibly. We've got to pick one for Week 1, and hopefully, one of those guys will separate themselves and make that a little easier for us. But Week 1's just Week 1. It never stops. It's always going."
Not really. I cannot think of another position where the starting player will be an ongoing topic of conversation. Or at least not at a position where if the starter is healthy, the backup will not see the field. On the defensive line, for instance, there is always a rotation.
And "we've got to pick one for Week 1" is the equivalent of "there will be a body between the center and left tackle." Yikes.
Final wide receiver spots
The first thing to determine is whether Shanahan will keep five or six receivers on the roster. He frequently goes with six.
Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, rookie De'Zhaun Stribling, and Christian Kirk are likely locks to make the team. The final one or two spots will come down to veteran Demarcus Robinson and second-year players Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins.
Robinson is the most reliable of the three, but the other two have potential. The question will involve how much potential the others show, how they would contribute on special teams, and whether he feels one of them can be safely stowed on the practice squad.
Cowing and Watkins will compete for the spot of punt returner, and Cowing has more experience in that area and returned a punt for a touchdown in the team's second preseason game.
This one is going to be tight. I believe Shanahan will keep Robinson and Cowing, and hope Watkins clears waivers, but this one is really tight.
Backup running backs
Every year, Shanahan says he would like to reduce Christian McCaffrey's touches, but every year it seems he is afraid to do so. He and general manager John Lynch have drafted a running back in each of the past three years and traded for the Washington Commanders' Brian Robinson last year.
They released Robinson after the season, and 2024 4th-round pick Isaac Guerendo has never really shown anything. Last year's 5th-round selection, Jordan James, played fairly well last season but is currently out with an injury. This year's 3rd-round selection, Kaelon Black, has looked strong in camp.
Muddying the waters, though, is Deebo Samuel, whom the 49ers brought back a few weeks ago. Deebo plays both wide receiver and running back and was a major contributor in the run game not too long ago. He will certainly get numerous touches at that position, and his presence—especially considering he will also be the primary kickoff returner—may cut back on the number of running backs Shanahan keeps.
At present, Black is in the lead for that next spot and most assuredly will make the team. The next spot is trickier. First, James has not practiced in training camp, but he was the No. 3 back last year, so the team knows what he can do.
Sincere McCormick, who was on the Niners' practice squad last year, has been one of the best running backs in the preseason games. Khalil Herbert, who played well for the Chicago Bears for several years, looked good in the second game, but considering the 49ers signed him, then released him, and then re-signed him when they needed depth at the position, that does not suggest he is in the team's plans, barring injury.
It looks like it will come down to how many backs the team keeps, and James and McCormick seem to be the frontrunners for that final spot, depending on whether James can get healthy.
Backup cornerback
The starters are in place with Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green on the outside and Upton Stout at nickel.
Part of the battle will be determined by versatility—who can play nickel?—and the ever-present need for good special teams play.
Veteran Jack Jones, brought in from Miami, has looked strong in practices, took over for Green when he left due to an injury in the second preseason game, and has acquitted himself well overall. He is sure to make the team.
Darrell Luter, Jr., has been a backup every year since he was drafted in 2023. However, he has never been a standout. How much upside does Shanahan feel he still has?
Rookie Ephesians Prysock has looked good in games, but he has not been mentioned much in training camp practice reports. He will at least make the practice squad.
Siran Neal is the primary backup at nickel, so, in some ways, his job would seem "safer."
And all of this will be impacted by how many safeties the team decides to keep.
3rd linebacker job
Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw are the entrenched starters. After that, the competition really begins.
Last year, Luke Gifford played solid football in relief but has missed much of training camp with a hamstring injury. The three other linebackers most in the mix are one of last year's 3rd-round picks, Nick Martin, one of this year's 5th-rounders, Jaden Dugger, and Garrett Wallow, who played fairly well last year when the team was decimated by injury.
All three have seen extensive playing time this preseason, and all have shown flashes. Martin has been the most consistent, and Dugger is the most versatile—but also the least polished. Wallow has not demonstrated as much speed as the other two and is therefore not as strong in coverage.
Look for Martin to be the third linebacker, unless Gifford can come back in time and play well, and Dugger will make the team due to his upside. Niners linebackers coach KJ Wright loves his potential. Wallow will be on the practice squad.
Compared to last year, the team seems deeper, with various rookies looking to make an impact as starters or at least as players who take significant snaps. We all hope for a healthy year, but the team looks to be in a better position should starters go down.
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