The 49ers are heading into their preseason finale against the Raiders with the spotlight split between what happens on the field today and what the team is still sorting out behind the scenes.
One of the biggest names to keep an eye on is CJ West. The team has handled him carefully this preseason - he sat out the first exhibition game - and a concussion in practice last week briefly knocked him off track before he returned Sunday.
That absence created an opening for undrafted rookies James Thompson Jr. and Bryson Eason to push for roster spots, but West is back in the picture now. If he stays on the field, the expectation is that he could carve out a meaningful role in the defense, especially on early downs.
Another young defender drawing attention is Dugger. San Francisco is going to live in nickel plenty, but his profile gives him a real chance to get work early and often.
At 6-foot-5 with a 7-foot wingspan and a 4.6-second 40-yard dash, he brings a rare mix of size and speed. How he develops could end up being a major factor in whether this young defense moves forward in 2026.
The team also brought in another pass rusher on the eve of the preseason finale, hosting former UFL edge player Jah Joyner. Joyner spent time with the Raiders after going undrafted in 2025, but he didn’t appear in a regular-season game last year.
He did play 52 preseason snaps and was listed at 6’5”, 265 pounds, lining up exclusively on the edge. He also played 10 games in the UFL last season and had a tryout with the Steelers in June 2026 before never signing a deal.
The timing of the workout fits what the 49ers are trying to manage right now. They need bodies, but they also don’t want to expose players they expect to count on in Week 1 to a meaningless preseason game just two weeks before the regular season begins.
That’s why Kyle Shanahan said the starters likely won’t see much action in Las Vegas.
“I don’t think you’ll see many starters,” Shanahan said. “We just don’t have enough time as we usually do, so I’ll be surprised if any of them are out there. There might be a couple, but it will be closer to how Week 1 (of the preseason) was.”
And while the focus is on the present, one future name has already surfaced in draft chatter. In a 2027 NFL mock draft, Stanford offensive tackle Niki Prongos was pegged as a potential Trent Williams successor for the 49ers.
Reid called Prongos “one of the more pleasant surprises in my summer film study” and wrote, “There’s a bit of projection with this pick, as Prongos is still a work in progress. But the 6-foot-7, 315-pound former walk-on has good foundational tools, and I really like his upward trajectory.”
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 Got One Reassuring Sign On A Sloppy Night
Mac Jones handled the opening two drives for the 49ers against the Raiders, and the early returns were uneven in a preseason setting that was messy from the start. He had a missed pass connection and also pushed the ball downfield, while the rest of the night featured the usual mix of roster-bubble evaluation and preseason sloppiness, with several defensive players, including rookies, flashing on some snaps and missing tackles on others.
For a team still sorting through depth spots, the most encouraging element may have come from the kicking game. Eddy Pineiro was steady throughout the night, knocking through multiple long field goals and finishing a perfect 6-for-6, giving San Francisco at least one clean performance to hang onto after a game that otherwise offered plenty of rough edges. [Read more 🡒]