The 49ers are staring at a tricky roster call as they get ready to cut down to 53 next Sunday, and injuries are right at the center of it.
That reality makes every extra spot matter, and San Francisco may have to get lean at certain positions. Tight end and safety stand out as the obvious places to trim, but quarterback could also become part of the conversation.
Kurtis Rourke turned heads in the first preseason game and looked the part. That matters because no position carries more value than quarterback, even when the player in question was a seventh-round pick. In Rourke’s case, the draft slot came with a catch: he was expected to miss his rookie year.
There’s also the bigger-picture question of what happens if he slips through waivers. The 49ers would be lucky to keep him, and the source of the concern is clear - he’s viewed as Brock Purdy’s backup after the 2026 season. At the same time, for Rourke to see the field, the team would likely need a 2022-type of injury-riddled season.
That leaves San Francisco’s brass with a tough judgment call: is Rourke’s long-term value worth a roster spot right now on a team already dealing with depth concerns?
One way to ease the squeeze is versatility. If players can handle more than one job, that gives the 49ers more flexibility. Depth pieces at linebacker, tight end, running back, and receiver who can help on kick coverage could end up making a real difference.
In Other News...
49ers Feel Good Jake Tonges Story Just Got Even Better
Jake Tonges has turned one of the more unlikely paths on the 49ers roster into a real success story. The tight end arrived in the league as an undrafted free agent with the Bears in 2022, landed on San Franciscos practice squad the next year, and kept working until he carved out a more permanent role. By the end of last season, he had become a meaningful part of the offense, finishing with 34 catches, 293 yards and five touchdowns.
Now the 49ers have rewarded that climb with a two-year, $8 million extension, a sign they see Tonges as more than just a feel-good depth piece. For a player who had to take the long road to get here, the next question is how much more his role can grow after proving he can be trusted when the offense needs him most. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Suddenly Have More Pressure To Add Pass Rush Help
Romello Heights ankle injury is not expected to cost him any regular-season time, but it does add another layer of uncertainty to a 49ers pass rush that already had more questions than answers. The rookie edge rusher will sit out the preseason finale, leaving San Francisco with one less body to sort through as it tries to settle the depth behind Nick Bosa and firm up the defensive front before Week 1.
Haason Reddick has emerged as a name to watch, with multiple teams showing interest in the veteran pass rusher and the 49ers among the clubs that could look to get involved. For a team that has built so much of its defensive identity around pressure off the edge, the timing makes the decision more urgent, and it leaves San Francisco weighing whether to add help now or trust its current options to hold up. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Make Their Stance On Jed Yorks Arrest Clear
The 49ers have largely kept the focus where it usually is this time of year, on football, not on the off-field situation surrounding Jed York. Fred Warner said Yorks recent arrest never became a conversation point inside the locker room, and the players have chosen not to linger on it. Kyle Shanahan took a similar line, calling it a personal matter and saying it does not affect the team, while also noting that he has spoken with York.
York was arrested in Ohio and later pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct and possession of criminal tools, putting the matter under review by the NFLs personal conduct policy. For now, the organizations public message is clear: the football side is staying separate from the legal one, even as the league continues to examine the case. [Read more 🡒]