SANTA CLARA, Calif. — As the San Francisco 49ers’ roster came into better focus on Wednesday, so did the soft spots for the upcoming season.
For example, the team added three more players to the active roster: tight end Eric Saubert, guard Ben Bartch and cornerback Rock Ya-Sin. None of them, however, plays offensive tackle, which seems like a gaping roster hole as Trent Williams’ contract holdout drags on and the Week 1 game against the New York Jets looms.
“I’m optimistic that things will work out with Trent,” Kyle Shanahan said before practice. “I’m not sitting here knowing what day it’ll be. We’re getting close to playing a game, so my mind is completely on preparing for a game without those guys. But yeah, I feel when two sides want to get a deal done, usually it happens.”
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The team still would be light at the position even if Williams is back. Jaylon Moore and Colton McKivitz are the only tackles currently on the 53-man roster and the two tackles on the practice squad, Sebastian Gutierrez and international player Isaac Alarcon, have never played an offensive snap in the NFL.
During training camp, the 49ers had a pair of veterans, Chris Hubbard at left tackle and Brandon Parker at right tackle, manning the backup spots. Neither was added to the 17-man practice squad on Wednesday, though Shanahan said they are options in the future.
“You’d always want a fourth (tackle),” Shanahan said. “Three is enough if no one ever gets hurt. But you usually don’t plan on it that way, and that’s why the final 53 is never the final 53. And it’s still pretty fluid right now.”
The day began with the 49ers losing three players — including a pair of rookies — they’d earmarked for their practice squad.
Sixth-round guard Jarrett Kingston was claimed by the Carolina Panthers while undrafted running back Cody Schrader was scooped up by the Los Angeles Rams. The Indianapolis Colts claimed cornerback Samuel Womack III.
It was the second straight year San Francisco lost three players to waivers. Last season, the Arizona Cardinals claimed offensive linemen Ilm Manning and Keith Ismael while the Panthers took cornerback D’Shawn Jamison.
Losing Schrader leaves the 49ers light at running back. Shanahan revealed that rookie Isaac Guerendo is dealing with a groin injury while Elijah Mitchell exacerbated a hamstring injury so badly during Monday’s practice that he’ll need surgery and is now on season-ending injured reserve. With Christian McCaffrey still out with a calf issue — he’s expected back next week — the 49ers’ only healthy runners are Jordan Mason and Patrick Taylor Jr. They currently don’t have a running back on the practice squad, although they still have one opening there.
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A third soft spot: defensive end.
The team was able to add Saubert, Bartch and Ya-Sin to the 53-man roster by placing guard Jon Feliciano (knee) and cornerback Ambry Thomas (arm) on injured reserve and by waiving defensive end Sam Okuayinonu.
That left them with four edge rushers: Nick Bosa, Leonard Floyd, Robert Beal Jr. and Yetur Gross-Matos, who is currently dealing with a knee sprain and who didn’t practice on Wednesday.
Though the 49ers lost Schrader and Kingston, they were able to hold onto four other rookies, quarterback Tanner Mordecai, defensive tackle Evan Anderson, center Drake Nugent and tight end Mason Pline, all of whom were added to the practice squad.
The practice squad also includes three receivers: Trent Taylor, Tay Martin and Terrace Marshall Jr., a former second-round pick by the Panthers who’s expected to be added on Thursday.
Others on the list: Defensive linemen Alex Barrett, Jonathan Garvin and T.Y. McGill; offensive linemen Gutierrez and Alarcon, safeties Jaylen Mahoney and Tracy Walker III, cornerback Chase Lucas, and tight end Brayden Willis.
Tight end Cameron Latu intends to join the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad while linebacker Jalen Graham will be added to the Washington Commanders’.
Latu joins Thomas, Trey Sermon, Tyrion Davis-Price and Danny Gray as recent third-round picks who are no longer with the team.
“Cam did a great job,” general manager John Lynch said. “(He) had two knee surgeries in his time here. I couldn’t have asked for anything more in terms of his work ethic. I think we just kind of, you fall into some good players. Saubert is a guy that we went out and got in free agency, really has been a nice find for us both at tight end and at special teams. Jake Tonges has been really, I’d say, a surprise and played really well.”
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Odds and ends
• Safety Talanoa Hufanga practiced for the first time since tearing his ACL on Nov. 19. He was restricted to individual drills and the 49ers will ease him into full sessions. If he’s not ready to play on Sept. 9 against the Jets, the team can elevate Walker from the practice squad.
“Will he be ready Week 1? Not sure,” Lynch said of Hufanga. “I think it’s gonna be tight.”
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• While Gross-Matos wasn’t seen at Wednesday’s practice, Floyd was back on the field after leaving Friday’s preseason finale with a knee sprain. Receiver Ricky Pearsall (shoulder) continues to practice in a blue, non-contact jersey.
The others who didn’t practice: receivers Brandon Aiyuk (healthy, not participating) and Jauan Jennings (oblique); running backs McCaffrey (calf) and Guerendo (groin); guard Aaron Banks (pinky); Gross-Matos (knee) and linebacker Dee Winters (ankle).
Shanahan said he expects Banks to return to practice Tuesday.
The 49ers’ WR crew for 2024. Not seen: Jauan Jennings (oblique) and Brandon Aiyuk. pic.twitter.com/dZ3dhNTxMr
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) August 29, 2024
• Shanahan said he hasn’t decided whether Brandon Allen or Joshua Dobbs will be the No. 2 quarterback against the Jets. Or rather, he has yet to reveal that decision to the quarterbacks.
“I know we haven’t told them,” Shanahan said. “I feel very good about both of them. I think they’re neck and neck. That hasn’t changed. It’s been that way for a while.”
(Top photo of Colton McKivitz and Dominick Puni: Michael Zagaris / San Francisco 49ers / Getty Images)
