The 49ers’ first 53-man roster already feels like a moving target.
San Francisco didn’t just trim down to its initial roster and call it a day. The team also cut both its punter and long-snapper, a pretty clear sign that general manager John Lynch and company still have more shuffling to do before Week 1. With the regular-season opener set for Australia against the Los Angeles Rams, this roster is far from locked in.
That means some of the players who made the opening cut may not actually be around when the 49ers take the field.
One day after keeping linebacker Nick Martin on the roster, San Francisco placed him on injured reserve, avoiding a situation where he could have either missed all of 2026 or been exposed to waivers. Moves like that could still be coming, and a few names already stand out as possible casualties before the opener.
Vederian Lowe was supposed to be the 49ers’ top swing tackle, but an ankle injury wiped out most of his training camp. The fact that he wasn’t placed on the reserve/physically unable-to-perform list suggests the team expects him back sooner rather than later, yet there’s still a real chance San Francisco stashes him on IR to free up a roster spot. If that happens, another lineman’s grip on a roster place could suddenly get a lot tighter.
Enrique Cruz Jr. is another player who feels vulnerable. The fifth-round rookie making the initial 53-man roster was a surprise after nearly every report out of camp and preseason painted a rough picture.
The 49ers know he needs a lot of work, but for now they’re protecting him from being claimed by another team. If Lowe is ready to return by Week 1, Cruz’s spot could be the one that disappears.
Ephesians Prysock’s situation is different. His issue isn’t performance; it’s a shoulder injury suffered in the preseason finale.
The extent of the injury still isn’t known, but San Francisco clearly didn’t want to risk losing him on waivers after an impressive camp and preseason. If he does get moved to IR from the 53-man roster, the expectation is that he’ll be back once he’s healthy.
Jordan Watkins also looks like a player whose hold on the roster could be shaky. He survived cuts despite an uneven preseason, and Jacob Cowing appears to offer more as a return option. Watkins did produce statistically in the preseason, but his blocking remains a concern, and Kyle Shanahan may be willing to look at other options after 31 other teams made their cuts.
Then there’s Brayden Willis, who has already spent time bouncing between the active roster and practice squad. That pattern could continue depending on George Kittle’s health before Week 1. If Kittle is fully recovered from last January’s Achilles tear, the 49ers could decide Willis isn’t essential on the 53-man roster and simply bring him back on the practice squad.
For now, all five are on the opening roster. By the time the 49ers board a plane for Australia, that may no longer be the case.
In Other News...
49ers Suddenly Have A Bigger Brandon Aiyuk Problem Than Ever
The 49ers moved to settle their roster on Tuesday, but Brandon Aiyuk remained the name hanging over the room. General manager John Lynch confirmed the wide receiver is not currently on the active roster after San Francisco left him off the final 53-man roster and placed him on the reserve/left squad list, a move that underlined just how unusual this situation has become for a player who has been one of the offenses biggest pieces.
Aiyuk also has not taken part in offseason workouts or training camp, which has only added to the uncertainty around his future in Santa Clara. Public chatter has linked him to the Washington Commanders, but no official move has followed, leaving the 49ers with a high-profile issue still unresolved as the season picture comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Could Need Immediate Week 1 Help From Unexpected Veterans
The 49ers are already looking past the initial roster trim and into Week 1 depth planning, with defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo and wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge reportedly joining the practice squad. It is the kind of early-season move that says as much about health as it does about talent, especially with San Francisco getting ready for its opener against the Los Angeles Rams and needing enough reliable bodies to cover important snaps on both sides of the ball.
Okoronkwo and Hodge bring the sort of veteran experience that can matter quickly if the 49ers have to shuffle pieces before the opener, and both could end up on the game day roster right away because of injury concerns at their positions. Undrafted players Wesley Grimes and Khalil Dinkins were also mentioned in the mix, giving San Francisco a little more flexibility as it tries to get through the first week with its depth chart still settling into place. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Add Under-The-Radar Depth With One Week 1 Question
The 49ers kept adding to their depth picture after the opening roster decisions, turning to a practice squad group that brings a mix of experience and upside. Ogbo Okoronkwo gives San Francisco a veteran edge presence with seven years in the league, while Khalil Dinkins and Wesley Grimes arrive as recent undrafted free agents looking to carve out a foothold in the organization.
KhaDarel Hodge is the most familiar name in the group for fans who follow special teams and receiver depth, since he has already spent time with the Falcons. For a team that always has to manage the grind of a long season, these are the kinds of low-profile additions that can matter quickly, even if the bigger question around the Week 1 roster is still only beginning to take shape. [Read more 🡒]