Following the 49ers’ final preseason game on Thursday night in Las Vegas, the real work began for coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch.
The 49ers have an abundance of injury questions entering Week 1, but only wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was lost for the 2026 NFL season this summer.
All NFL teams must reduce their rosters from 90 players to the 53-man limit by Sunday at 3 p.m.
And the medical reports will determine how the 49ers piece it together ahead of their trip to Melbourne, Australia, to face the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, Sept. 10.
“That’s why you want as long as possible,” Shanahan said. “They’re moving it up this year on Sunday with us leaving for Australia so soon. So it just makes it a little bit harder to guess where those guys are going to be.
“Most of our guys, besides Ricky, are going to be all right. How good are they going to be Week 1? How good are they going to be Week 2? Those are things we’ve got to balance out.”
And that is why projecting the 49ers’ initial 53-man roster becomes so difficult.
Teams are allowed to designate two players to return off injured reserve on Sunday. All other players who are ticketed for injured reserve must first be included on the 53-man roster.
Here is our final 49ers roster projection:
Quarterback (3)
Brock Purdy
Mac Jones
Kurtis Rourke
Also: Adrian Martinez
Although Rourke sustained broken ribs in his only game of the preseason, he has shown enough to make the 49ers believe he could be the backup quarterback next season. If the 49ers keep two QBs on their opening roster, they run the risk of losing him.
Running back (4)
Christian McCaffrey
Kyle Juszczyk
Kaelon Black
Jordan James
PUP – Isaac Guerendo
Also, Khalil Herbert, Sincere McCormick
This is a position where the 49ers can go a little light from the outset. As a vested veteran, the 49ers can re-sign Herbert on Monday after spots on the roster open with additional players being placed on injured reserve. Herbert has value as a reserve after appearing in 63 games (13 starts) over the past five seasons.
Wide receiver (6)
Mike Evans
De’Zhaun Stribling
Deebo Samuel
Demarcus Robinson
Jordan Watkins
Jacob Cowing
IR – Christian Kirk
Also, Malik Turner, KhaDarel Hodge, Trenton Irwin, Will Pauling, Wesley Grimes
The 49ers have good depth at this position, and it looks as if the top six are set with Cowing getting the nod because of his history of returning punts. The other players who have been fielding punts do not have much experience in college or the pros.
Tight end (3)
George Kittle
Jake Tonges
Luke Farrell
Also, Brayden Willis, Hayden Rucci, Khalil Dinkins
It remains to be seen if Kittle will travel with his teammates to Australia for the Week 1 game. If he remains back in the Bay Area for more physical therapy, strength and conditioning training, the 49ers could elevate a tight end from the practice squad, such as Willis or Rucci, to be available to play against the Rams.
Offensive line (9)
Trent Williams
Dominick Puni
Colton McKivitz
Jake Brendel
Carver Willis
Connor Colby
Robert Jones
Austen Pleasants
Enrique Cruz
IR – Vederian Lowe, Brett Toth
Also, Brandon Parker, Drake Nugent, Nick Zakelj, Doug Kramer, Isaac Alarcon
Shanahan has yet to announce whom the team will start at left guard for Week 1, but it’s looking as if Willis, a rookie, could get that call. Pleasants (knee) and Jones (calf) are expected back soon from injuries, so it appears they might avoid stints on IR. Cruz showed enough as the summer went on to believe that he could develop as a starter down the road.
Defensive line (10)
Nick Bosa
Osa Odighizuwa
Alfred Collins
Romello Height
Keion White
Sam Okuayinonu
CJ West
Gracen Halton
Bryson Eason
James Thompson Jr.
PUP — Mykel Williams
Also, Ogba Okoronkwo, Sebastian Valdez, Evan Anderson, Quinton Bell, Viliami Fehoko Jr., Jah Joyner
Okoronkwo, a seven-year veteran, had a good camp, and the 49ers certainly can keep him around on the practice squad as insurance. Valdez made a good run at a roster spot, so he still has a chance to contribute at some point in the season, too. It was a tough call between Eason and Thompson Jr., so they both get spots on the team.
Linebacker (5)
Fred Warner
Dre Greenlaw
Jaden Dugger
Tatum Bethune
Garret Wallow
IR – Nick Martin, Luke Gifford
Also, Deion Jones, Jalen Graham, Larry Worth III
Martin earned a spot on the team, but his hamstring injury in the second preseason game likely means that he will be forced to open the season on the injured list. Gifford also is trying to get back from a hamstring injury he sustained early in training camp.
Cornerback (6)
Deommodore Lenoir
Renardo Green
Upton Stout
Jack Jones
Darrell Luter
Ephesians Prysock
IR – Nate Hobbs
Also, Jakob Robinson, Eli Apple
Green sustained a hamstring injury in the second preseason game, so it is possible Jones could open as the starter with Luter slated to be the top backup. Prysock sustained a shoulder injury that could limit him early in the season, but he is likely ticketed to a developmental role as a rookie, anyway.
Safety (4)
Ji’Ayir Brown
Marques Sigle
Siran Neal
Ashtyn Davis
IR – Malik Mustapha
Also, Jalen Stroman, Patrick McMorris
The 49ers could create a roster spot at the cut to 53 players by releasing Neal or Davis, or both. Because they are vested veterans, they would not be subject to the waiver wire, so the 49ers simply could re-sign them the following day when they place other players on injured reserve. The wild card is Mustapha. There is no clear indication at this point whether his hamstring injury will force him to open the season on injured reserve.
Special teams (3)
K Eddy Piñeiro
P Corliss Waitman
LS Jon Weeks
The 49ers are in a much better position with their specialists than a year ago. Remember, they broke camp last year with Jake Moody as their kicker. Piñeiro is coming off a final exhibition game in which he kicked six field goals, including makes from 48, 59, 51 and 54 yards. It appears the 49ers are vastly improved at punter, too, with Waitman taking Thomas Morstead’s place.