The 49ers got their first preseason look at the rookie class, and a few names already stood out for very different reasons. Some players flashed enough to keep climbing. Others still have work to do before they can force their way into bigger roles.
The loudest statement came from Stribling, who was everywhere in the passing game. He finished with seven catches for 63 yards, and while Deebo Samuel’s addition and Demarcus Robinson’s rise still leave him fighting for the third receiver spot, he’s making that conversation harder to ignore with every strong outing.
Halton also made a real push. He was on the field for 30 snaps and showed up with a pressure and four run stops.
The 49ers need him to keep rising, especially since he’s currently behind second-year UDFA Sebastian Valdez. That likely won’t last long if Halton keeps producing, and he should get a tougher test next week.
Dugger already looks like a player who belongs. He started at MIKE, the same spot Fred Warner plays, and handled 30 snaps with three tackles and two run stops. His roster spot is already secure, and he has moved ahead of second-year linebacker Nick Martin.
Willis took a step into the spotlight as well. He played 33 snaps at left guard and earned an 84.4 PFF grade, which is well above average.
That performance got him a look with the first team the following week. The adjustment has not been smooth - things were rocky there - but he’s clearly in the mix and has a chance to boost his standing again next week.
Prysock’s night was more uneven, though the upside still shows. He logged 53 snaps, including 28 in coverage, and mixed a missed tackle with solid work in coverage. The bigger takeaway is that the talent is there, and he’s getting the kind of reps he needs.
Cruz had a tougher time at left tackle. He played 33 snaps there, with 23 in pass protection and 10 in the run game, and gave up two pressures while struggling as a run blocker. A year on the practice squad might end up being the right path for him.
Height also saw meaningful action, taking 18 snaps with 13 of them coming in pass-rush situations. The role probably won’t change much early in his NFL career, but the production has to follow. He didn’t record a pressure, and the 49ers need him to grow into that pass-rush specialist job.
Black didn’t play because of an injury, and that absence matters too. He could end up forcing a difficult decision if the 49ers decide they need to add another back.
In Other News...
49ers Just Added An Awkward New Twist To The Melbourne Showdown
The 49ers trip to Melbourne already had plenty of intrigue, and Jack Bouwmeesters path through it adds another layer. San Francisco brought in the Australian punter as part of its preseason competition, but the team moved on before camp broke and kept Corliss Waitman in place as the punter while sorting through roster needs and injuries elsewhere.
Bouwmeester did not stay on the market long, landing with the Rams through the international player exemption. It gives Los Angeles a chance to keep him around without using one of its 90 roster spots, and it also leaves a familiar wrinkle for the 49ers, who may end up seeing the specialist they waived in the very setting that helped bring him into the NFL conversation. [Read more 🡒]
George Kittles Recovery Has 49ers Fans Rethinking The Opener
George Kittles recovery has become one of the more intriguing developments around 49ers training camp, because it is no longer just about how he looks in drills, but when he might actually be back in the lineup. The tight end is rehabbing the Achilles injury he suffered in last seasons playoffs, and the early signs have been encouraging enough that NFL Networks Ian Rapoport watched Kittle work out and came away with the sense that the timeline is moving in the right direction.
For San Francisco, any progress with Kittle matters because of what he means to the offense and because injuries of this kind usually take longer to work through. He is already seven months into the recovery process, which has put him ahead of the usual pace, and that is enough to make the opener feel a little less certain than it did a few weeks ago. The 49ers still have time to sort out how aggressive they want to be, but the possibility of having Kittle involved early changes the conversation around Week 1 in a meaningful way. [Read more 🡒]
Christian McCaffrey Has 49ers Fans Feeling Familiar Preseason Anxiety
Christian McCaffreys preseason has once again turned into a waiting game, and for 49ers fans, that is usually enough to stir up nerves before the games even count. The running back has not been practicing during the 2026 preseason because of an unspecified injury, leaving his status for the regular season unsettled as the team works through the usual questions that come with one of the leagues most dynamic, and heavily used, players.
There is always some hope this is simply the 49ers being careful with a star they want available when it matters most, especially given McCaffreys injury history and the pounding he has taken in recent seasons. But until he is back on the field, the uncertainty hangs over everything, with fans and observers left to wonder whether this is routine maintenance or something more concerning. [Read more 🡒]