Coach Kyle Shanahan didn’t take many chances Thursday night, giving all of the 49ers’ regulars the night off in Las Vegas.
The 49ers closed out the preseason with a 18-12 win over the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in the final dress rehearsal for both teams.
Field goals accounted for all the scoring, as Eddy Pineiro made six, including kicks of 48, 59, 51 and 54 yards, for the 49ers and former San Francisco kicker Matt Gay booted four for the Raiders.
Now, the 49ers must trim their roster to 53 players before taking the transpacific flight Wednesday to Melbourne, Australia, for their regular-season opener against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, Sept. 10.
The 49ers’ third preseason game gave the players at the bottom part of the roster one last chance to make an impression. And there was one significant position battle that continued.
Here are the top three takeaways:
Battle for backup RB
The 49ers appear to be in much better shape behind star running back Christian McCaffrey than at any point since the 49ers acquired him in a 2022 trade.
Kaelon Black and Jordan James showed enough on the practice field and during the exhibition season to enable the 49ers to feel a little more secure with their backup situation.
Black, a 2026 third-round draft pick, started for the 49ers on Thursday night and was on the field for the 49ers’ first three possessions. He gained 28 yards on four rushing attempts, but appeared to have a miscommunication on a short pass on which quarterback Mac Jones threw to a spot he expected Black to occupy. The ball landed incomplete.
Jordan James, a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, entered after Black. He also showed some good things, including a 20-yard reception from Adrian Martinez. James also had a 17-yard run. In the third quarter, James was penalized for an illegal low block that nullified a touchdown pass to tight end Hayden Rucci.
James finished with 35 yards on eight rushing attempts.
Did Willis do enough?
Rookie offensive lineman Carver Willis played left guard for the first half of the 49ers’ preseason finale. He appeared to play well both in pass protection and getting to the second level to make blocks in the run game.
It would seem to suggest Willis is the favorite to open the season in the team’s starting lineup.
The 49ers selected Willis in the fourth round of the draft. After playing tackle in college, Willis was viewed as an interior offensive lineman at the professional level.
Connor Colby opened training camp as the No. 1 left guard. He was engaged in a competition with veteran Robert Jones early in training camp. Then, Willis got into the mix. And a week ago, Austen Pleasants saw action at left guard.
But with Jones (calf) and Pleasants (knee) out with injuries, the 49ers went back to Willis. And that is looking like the way they might start the regular season against the Rams.
49ers moving on
General manager John Lynch, on the local television broadcast on KPIX, addressed the arrest of owner Jed York and his no-contest pleas Monday on two misdemeanor charges.
“Obviously, a difficult situation,” Lynch said. “I have so much love and respect for the York family, for Jed, for Danielle, John and Denise, and Jenna and Mara. They’ve just been tremendous to me and my family. I thought Kyle (Shanahan) said it well. It’s a real personal situation. We’re going to leave it as such.”
York was arrested in Ohio on a charge of engaging in prostitution. The charge was amended to disorderly conduct.
Lynch suggested York’s legal situation has no impact on the 49ers’ preparation late in the preseason.
“I can tell you from a football operation, we had a fantastic week of practice,” Lynch said. “The guys are working extremely hard, and we got a lot in front of us, and it’s going to come in a hurry. Australia’s right around the corner.”
The 49ers leave Wednesday for their Week 1 game in Melbourne against the Rams.