Thirty or more of the 49ers’ top players have shifted their focus on the team’s Week 1 game against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia.
But for the rest of the team’s players, there is one final chance to get evaluated before the roster must be trimmed from 90 players to the regular-season limit of 53.
“I don’t think you’ll see many starters,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “We just don’t have enough time as we usually do. So I’ll be surprised if any of them are out there.”
The 49ers — and all NFL teams — must reduce their active roster to 53 players by Sunday at 3 p.m.
These five players have the biggest chances to set themselves up for the future with one last opportunity to make an impression.
LG Carver Willis
The 49ers’ first four picks in the 2026 NFL Draft consisted of a wide receiver, edge, running back and defensive tackle.
Despite a vacancy at left guard, the 49ers waited until the 127th overall pick to add a player who would compete for a starting job on the offensive line.
That player was Carver Willis, who played tackle during his college career. He played four seasons at Kansas State before transferring to Washington, where he was the starting left tackle.
The 49ers drafted him with the intention of shifting him to the interior of the offensive line. The coaching staff has yet to identify a starting left guard, but Willis gets the first chance on Thursday night against the Las Vegas Raiders.
LG Connor Colby
Connor Colby was a seventh-round pick a year ago who started six games as a rookie. When training camp opened, it looked as if he might take the job and deny anyone else the opening for a competition.
But Colby did not impress the 49ers’ coaching staff. Like Willis, Colby has one final chance during the preseason to make a case for a starting job.
The other two individuals considered for the starting position this summer are injured. Robert Jones (calf) and Austen Pleasants (knee) should be back relatively soon. They remain options down the line to take over if the Week 1 starter ends up faltering.
WR Jordan Watkins
Jordan Watkins, the second-year wide receiver from Ole Miss, has played well enough to at least be in the conversation for a role as the 49ers’ No. 4 receiver.
The top three spots appear set with Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel and rookie De’Zhaun Stribling.
It’s unlikely that veteran Demarcus Robinson suits up. (After all, the 49ers know what Robinson brings to the table.) Watkins should get extended playing time and a chance to prove he deserves a spot on the team as a possible playmaker on offense.
DT Bryson Eason
The final couple spots along the 49ers’ defensive line are up for grabs. There are some very strong candidates, including defensive tackle Bryson Eason, an undrafted rookie from Tennessee.
Perhaps, injuries elsewhere will determine how many defensive linemen coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch decide to retain on their initial 53-man roster.
Eason (6-foot-2, 323 pounds) has put himself in a position for a spot in the rotation among interior defensive linemen.
DT James Thompson Jr.
Defensive tackle James Thompson Jr., an undrafted rookie from Indiana, might be competing with Eason for that final spot.
It seems possible that either could get claimed off waivers if the 49ers try to sneak either through to the practice squad at the beginning of the season.
Thompson (6-fot-6, 308 pounds) has a different body type than Eason. Both have some unique skills for players who did not hear their names called during the draft.
As with all of the players on the bubble, NFL jobs are on the line. A strong showing on Thursday night could earn Eason or Thompson (or both) a spot with another team if the 49ers determine there is not enough room on their roster for both of them.