The San Francisco 49ers are getting down to business, absolutely slashing their massive 90-man roster down to a lean 53, and every single move matters as they gear up for a seriously wild Week 1 showdown against the Los Angeles Rams. They’re already sitting as 3.5-point underdogs over at FanDuel Sportsbook, and get this: the game is in Melbourne, Australia. The Rams are the designated home team, which means no invading 49ers fans to turn the stadium red and gold. That playing field is leveled hard, and the practice squad is going to be key for prep.
Melbourne-Bound and Battle Ready
Don’t sleep on the practice squad, folks. These aren’t just benchwarmers. They travel with the team, they do all the heavy lifting that any active player does in practice, even if they aren’t suiting up on game day. They’re critical for getting the team ready, especially for a bizarre Week 1 trip to Australia. An NFL practice squad holds 17 players, and right now, all those spots are wide open, giving the 49ers a ton of flexibility.
The rules are pretty clear: one spot goes to the NFL International Pathway Program, six can be veterans with no cap on their experience, and the remaining ten have to be rookies or second-year players. Out of that group, the 49ers get to protect four guys from being poached by other teams’ active rosters. They can also promote two players to the active roster for a week and send them back down. If a player plays two consecutive weeks, though, the team has to offer them a one-year deal. What this means is the Niners are looking for a perfect blend: young talent they can develop all season long, and solid backups who can step in when injuries inevitably hit.
Who’s Making Moves for the Squad?
We’ve already got one name locked in for the practice squad: Isaac Alarcon will be the International Player Pathway exemption after his release, which is huge for getting that 17-man squad finalized. But the big question marks are still flying around. Whispers from Matt Maiocco hint that running back Khalil Herbert, wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge, and edge rusher Ogbo Okoronkwo could be on that plane to Australia this Wednesday. Is it a handshake deal for the practice squad, or did they sneak onto the initial 53-man roster? We’ll have to wait and see.
Then there’s the buzz around Adisa Isaac, the former third-round pick from the 2024 NFL Draft, just released by the Ravens. The guy has been hampered by injuries in his short career, only playing four games, but he’s expected to draw serious interest as a young pass rusher. Could the 49ers snatch him up for the practice squad, giving them a high-upside developmental piece they didn’t expect?
The 49ers still have to fill out those 17 practice squad spots, and with a monstrous Week 1 battle across the globe, every single decision counts. Keep your eyes peeled as they finalize the roster and prep for what’s sure to be an epic kickoff to the season!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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