The 49ers have enough talent to make the back end of the roster messy, and that’s where the pressure is building as Week 1 approaches. If San Francisco is going to sort through its preseason cuts cleanly, a few names that once looked safe suddenly don’t feel that way anymore.
Christian Kirk is one of the clearest examples. What once seemed like a straightforward path to his fourth NFL team - after stops with the Cardinals, Jaguars and Texans across eight seasons - has turned into a fight to stay on the roster at all.
The issue isn’t just the competition around him. An injury has slowed him down, and the recent production hasn’t helped either.
Kirk put up 1,000 receiving yards in 2022 with eight touchdowns, but since then his totals have dropped to 787, 379 and 239 yards, with only five touchdowns combined.
Kyle Shanahan didn’t hide the frustration around Kirk’s situation, telling Sports Illustrated: “That's been unfortunate for him because he had the same thing in OTAs, so he missed that,” said Kyle Shanahan. “He hasn't been ready to go, and he did it the first practice before we even got to team period.
So I know he's been extremely frustrated with it. We love the guy so far, but hopefully he can have some better luck going forward here so he can get some reps out here.”
The numbers game at receiver could get tight fast. One possible six-man group would include Mike Evans, De’Zhaun Stribling, Deebo Samuel, Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing, according to sfstandard.com.
David Lombardi also noted that Samuel has worked with both the receivers and the running backs, which could matter when the 53-man roster is counted. As Lombardi wrote, “It’s worth noting that Samuel has done position-group drills with both the receivers and the running backs,” and “The 49ers could theoretically count him as their fifth back for 53-man tallying purposes, and that would effectively open a spot for another wideout.
That could be the veteran Kirk, who hasn’t practiced since straining his calf on Day 1 of camp - or it could be someone like the rookie Pauling, if he impresses enough over the final two preseason games.”
That leaves Kirk staring at the clock.
The offensive line picture has gotten just as uncomfortable for Colby. The seventh-round pick in 2025 appeared in 13 games last season and made six starts, and it initially looked like he could claim the 2026 left guard job.
Chris Foerster made it clear the competition was open, saying, “We’re going to play the best five players as we can,” said 49ers assistant head coach and offensive line coach Chris Foerster. “And at left guard, we brought guys in to compete at the left guard spot.
Now, he (Colby) is the incumbent. And nobody else has done anything to beat him out to this point.
“Connor had an awesome offseason. I would say through OTAs, he really established himself.
I’ll say Rob Jones has done an excellent job since being here as well. Those two guys have really set themselves apart from the other guys.”
But the preseason has not gone Colby’s way, and the door now looks open for him to miss the cut entirely. Lombardi wrote, “Colby, who opened camp as a favorite to win the left guard job, seems to be skating on thin ice,” and added that he is “in a three-way battle for the open starting spot with (Robert) Jones and the rookie (Carver) Willis.”
Lombardi also said recent work at right guard suggests the 49ers may be trying to see whether Colby can serve as a backup swing guard, though that role may not be worth a roster spot. A practice squad path remains possible, with Lombardi pointing to Colton McKivitz’s 2021 stint there after a deadline-day cutdown.
Colby may still end up around the team in some form, but the margin for error has shrunk.
Then there’s Davis, whose situation is different but just as shaky. The six-year veteran and former third-round pick spent five seasons with the Jets before playing last year in Miami, where he started a career-high 12 games.
He arrived in San Francisco with a chance to secure another solid job, but the numbers ahead of him at safety are not encouraging. Malik Mustapha, Ji’Ayir Brown, Marques Sigle and Siran Neal all sit in front of him.
That’s a rough spot to be in, especially with the 49ers carrying what Pro Football Focus called one of the bottom third secondary groups in the league. PFF wrote, “This is debatably the worst position group on an otherwise strong roster once again in 2026,” and also noted, “It’s a fairly young and homegrown unit - all five starters return from last year, and all were drafted by the organization.
While continuity will help, there just isn’t much optimism to speak of. The 49ers’ 52.3 overall PFF grade was the third-lowest of any secondary in football in 2025.”
In Other News...
49ers Roster Battle Took A Turn During This Preseason Blowout
The 49ers turned a preseason blowout into a long look at the bottom of the roster, and the game quickly became more about auditions than the score. Brock Purdy played briefly before giving way, San Francisco was up 20-3 by halftime and stretched the margin to 41-9 in the second half, opening the door for a cluster of rookies and fringe players to get extended snaps in a live setting.
Jacob Cowing, DeZhaun Stribling, Kaelon Black, Carver Willis, Austen Pleasants and Jalen Stroman all saw meaningful action, with the results mixed as the staff sorted through a crowded roster battle. Adrian Martinez handled the second half and left a little bit of everything on the tape, including a pick-six, but also a rushing touchdown and a passing touchdown as the 49ers kept the scoreboard moving while the evaluation window stayed wide open. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Injury Pileup Is Raising New Concerns Before Week 1
The 49ers left their preseason game against the Chargers with more than just the usual August bruises. Guard Austen Pleasants was ruled out with a knee injury, and rookie cornerback Renardo Green also left the contest and was questionable to return before ultimately not coming back. For a team trying to get through camp healthy and ready for Week 1, those are the kinds of exits that can linger well beyond one exhibition game.
Kyle Shanahans update on the defensive front added another layer to the concern, even if it came with some cautious optimism. He said Nick Bosa is making progress, while Mykel Williams is still trending toward missing the season opener. With the regular season approaching, the 49ers are once again navigating the uncomfortable mix of waiting, monitoring, and hoping the injury report does not keep growing. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Win Came With One Roster Concern Fans Will Be Watching
The 49ers got the preseason result they wanted against the Chargers, but the night also came with a reminder that roster battles can change quickly in August. Cornerback Renardo Green left with a hamstring injury, which is the kind of setback that can complicate a competition for a starting job just as the team is trying to sort out who fits where before the games start counting.
Elsewhere, the picture looked more encouraging. Rookie running backs DeZhaun Stribling and Kaelon Black turned in promising performances, while Deebo Samuel and Dre Greenlaw returned to practice in better shape after their own recent issues. San Francisco now shifts to its work against the Rams, with George Kittle expected back at practice soon, but Greens health will be one of the quieter storylines worth tracking as the roster picture keeps coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]