Eddy Pineiro finished the 49ers’ preseason on a spotless note, and a few young players made the kind of late August impressions that can matter when roster cuts arrive.
Jordan James got one last extended look Thursday night and, for the most part, made it count. He finished with 35 yards on eight carries, highlighted by a 17-yard run up the middle where he absorbed contact and kept driving forward.
He also turned a screen pass into a 20-yard gain, helped along by a strong perimeter block from rookie left guard hopeful Carver Willis. But James also had two moments he’d like back: a third-and-1 carry where he went sideways and lost a yard, and an illegal block that wiped out a touchdown pass.
That third-and-1 sequence stood out because it contrasted with the work of Black, who had already shown better decisiveness in the same type of situation. Black picked up 14 yards on a run after good blocking on the next drive, and his earlier success on a third-and-1 had become a point of comparison when James tried to cut against the grain instead of staying on his path. Black then yielded to James in the second quarter.
James isn’t built to flash for the sake of flashing. He runs like a back who can bounce off tacklers and squeeze out a few extra yards, which is exactly the kind of trait a backup needs. The challenge now is translating that into cleaner work in tight-yardage spots.
One of the more interesting names from the night may have been undrafted rookie tight end Khalil Dinkins. Listed at 6’4”, 226 pounds, he may still need to add weight, but he showed enough blocking intensity in limited snaps to keep himself in the conversation for a practice-squad spot.
Willis’ night was about more than one block on a screen, though. The rookie is getting another start at left guard because the 49ers want him to keep stacking reps, especially in a system where run blocking is judged with real precision. The team’s per-carry average, which had been a strong 4.52 yards in the first eight seasons under Shanahan, dropped to 3.78 yards last season, the first time it had fallen below 4 yards during his tenure.
Willis described the scheme as demanding work that has to sync perfectly with the linemen around him. “My angles in the run game aren’t very complementary of the guys next to me.”
That kind of issue can look small to everyone else, but it jumps off the film to a coach like Chris Foerster. Willis said the main task is tightening up his aiming point and matching the angles of the line around him. “For me right now, it’s studying that aiming point and running on our angles, setting our backside shoulder, all that kind of stuff.”
He’s also getting a built-in education beside veterans. Trent Williams is to his left, Jake Brendel to his right, and Willis said the communication has been constant.
“Those guys have been so great,” Willis said. “They’ll tell you when you did well.
Be like, ‘Hey, great job on that. That’s exactly what we need.’
Or it’s, ‘Hey, come on. You have to see that quicker.’
Or, ‘You’ve got to get hands on the guy.’ I’ve got a combined 23 years of experience next to me.
That’s huge. Our vets have been so helpful.”
In Other News...
49ers May Have Just Caught A Break In Week 1 Prep
The Rams are heading into Week 1 with more than one question hanging over their receiving group, and the 49ers have taken notice. Puka Nacua is dealing with a groin injury, and there is also the possibility of a suspension tied to a civil lawsuit, leaving Los Angeles to sort through its options as it gets ready for San Francisco. The Rams added some depth by trading for Tutu Atwell, who had previously signed with the Dolphins, but Nacua remains the central concern in the buildup.
From the 49ers side, the safest approach is to prepare as if Nacua will be on the field, even if his status is still unsettled. That kind of uncertainty can change how a defense studies tendencies and plans matchups, especially in a season opener where every detail matters. For now, San Francisco can only wait and watch how much of the Rams passing picture comes into focus before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Could Be Waiting On A Serious Jed York Decision
The NFLs review of Jed Yorks arrest has now become part of the 49ers backdrop, with Commissioner Roger Goodell confirming the league is looking at the matter under its personal conduct policy. York was arrested in Ohio after an undercover operation tied to prostitution charges, and the case ended with a no contest plea to disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools, followed by a one-day jail sentence, a fine and completion of an online course.
What comes next is the part the franchise is waiting on. The league has not yet announced whether York will face any discipline, leaving the 49ers with a situation that could linger beyond the courtroom and into the business of the season. Even for an organization that has spent plenty of time in the spotlight, this is the kind of off-field development that can keep drawing attention until the NFL makes its decision. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Roster Bubble Suddenly Feels Tighter Than Fans Realized
The back end of the 49ers roster has gotten a little more interesting as the preseason winds down, with a cluster of lesser-known names suddenly worth tracking. Defensive linemen CJ West, James Thompson Jr. and Bryson Eason have all surfaced as players trying to carve out a place, while Dugger is part of the same conversation as the team sorts through depth and recent injury status at multiple spots. For a club that routinely asks young, unproven players to fill real roles, these August evaluations can matter as much as anything else on the calendar.
San Francisco also brought in pass rusher Jah Joyner for a workout ahead of the preseason finale, another sign the staff is still looking for answers before trimming the roster. And while thats about the immediate picture, theres already a faint eye toward the future, with one mock draft projection tying the 49ers to Stanford offensive tackle Niki Prongos. Its the kind of overlap the 49ers always seem to have at this time of year: present-day auditions on one side, future planning quietly taking shape on the other. [Read more 🡒]