The 49ers spent part of their latest roster churn looking at help at tight end, bringing Khalil Dinkins in for a tryout according to the transaction wire. That move came two days after Brayden Willis, Josiah Deguara and Hayden Rucci each logged between 33 and 37 snaps in the preseason opener, a group the team had to lean on with George Kittle still on the active/PUP list. San Francisco also has Luke Farrell and Jake Tonges on hand.
Dinkins was an undrafted free agent from this year’s draft class before the 49ers released him after injuries slowed him down. Now the team appears to be checking whether he’s healthier and whether he can offer more than the three tight ends who were on the field Thursday.
There was also good news at wide receiver. Mike Evans, dealing with a quad injury, and Jacob Cowing, who has been out with a hip flexor issue, both returned to practice and took part in 11-on-11 work.
Whether Evans gets into joint practices this week or is held back until the games count is still an open question. Cowing’s return matters just as much, especially after the 49ers waived Junior Bergen, a move that suggested Cowing was close to getting back because of his value as a returner.
The most interesting development may have come up front. According to reporters on site, the starter rotation at left guard shifted, with Connor Colby and Carver Willis taking turns with the first unit.
Robert Jones worked at right guard with the second team, while Austen Pleasants stayed at left guard with the third group. During the move-the-ball period, Willis reportedly got the most snaps with the starters, which points to him being ahead of Colby at the moment.
That lines up with how the week has been trending. Jones is getting the first shot with the starters in the preseason opener, while Willis and Colby are next in line. After Thursday’s game, Kyle Shanahan explained Jones’ place in the competition this way: “We felt he fit into our scheme and was a guy that we were able to get that we think can compete for that starting job, and if not, he can have some good depth for us.”
That doesn’t close the door on Willis or Colby; if anything, it suggests the job is still very much up for grabs. Jones also shouldn’t be viewed as being pushed aside, especially after playing in his first live game since 2024 less than 48 hours earlier. The 49ers will need to manage the soreness that comes with that.
Trent Williams made it plain after practice that this is a three-man fight and “may the best man win.” He also said Willis has a “high ceiling and a lot of potential.”
Williams was asked who stood out to him on Thursday night, and he pointed to the rookie Halton with the kind of caveat only a veteran teammate can offer:
“Boomer sooner. You know it.
G-baby, man. Obviously, Oklahoma guy.
I’m always gonna be a little biased. I think the world is going to see what he has to offer.
Very explosive. Short-area quickness.
Really powerful. Put you in the mind of D.J.
Jones a little bit, what he had when he was here. He definitely impressed.”
Williams also said Halton’s love for football shows up everywhere, whether it’s in the locker room or after he wins a rep on the practice field.
In Other News...
49ers Preseason Opener Just Raised The Stakes For Roster Hopefuls
The 49ers first preseason game did more than shake off the rust, it started to separate the hopefuls from the long shots. Some players helped their cases with the kind of early work coaches notice, while the teams roster math got a little tighter with the first wave of cuts already beginning to trim the camp roster. Special teams roles are also starting to come into focus, with Watkins and Deebo Samuel looking like they could handle return duties as the club keeps sorting out where the most reliable depth fits.
Kurtis Rourke was one of the more interesting names to emerge from the opener, showing enough to stand out before his injury complicated the picture. His performance suggests there is something to work with, but the setback could push him toward a practice squad path rather than an immediate roster spot. On the other side of the ledger, Nate Hobbs has barely been able to practice, and his absence has left the 49ers weighing just how they want to manage his availability if he is not ready when the season begins. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Fans Should Watch This Pass Rusher Closely
South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart is the kind of draft prospect 49ers fans should keep on the radar, especially if they are already thinking about the next wave of help for the defensive line. The scouting report points to the athleticism and pass-rush ability that have made him stand out, along with the kind of upside that can put a player in first-round conversations before he ever reaches the league.
The bigger question now is health, after Stewart dealt with a back injury in 2025 that could shape how teams view him moving forward. If he stays on track, his ceiling makes him an intriguing long-term option for San Francisco, a team that could always use more young edge talent in the pipeline. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Depth Battles Already Look A Lot More Concerning
The 49ers used their preseason opener in Tennessee exactly the way a team in August is supposed to, keeping most of the starters on the sideline and giving rookies and backups a long look in live action. The result was a 19-13 loss, but the more important part for San Francisco was how the roster depth held up when the games started to count for evaluation.
A handful of players did not help their cases much. Robert Jones, Connor Colby, Patrick Taylor Jr., Romello Height, Drake Nugent and Doug Kramer Jr. all drew attention for uneven showings, which is not the kind of first impression a team wants when jobs are being sorted out. For a roster with expectations as high as San Franciscos, these early depth battles were already going to matter, and now they look a little more unsettled than the 49ers probably hoped. [Read more 🡒]