The San Francisco 49ers dropped their initial 53-man roster on Sunday, cutting down from 90 players, and the biggest surprise coming out of it is definitely Deebo Samuel. Forget just receiver duties, Samuel is officially on the depth chart as the fourth running back, which gives the 49ers some wild roster flexibility.
Deebo Samuel Is Your New RB4
This move changes how they’re handling their backfield. With Isaac Guerendo on the reserve/PUP list, the 49ers would usually roll with four running backs plus their fullback, Kyle Juszczyk. But now, Samuel’s new role lets them carry just three traditional running backs initially. Rookie Kaelon Black apparently impressed during preseason, and the return of Jordan James gave the organization enough confidence to make this happen. Christian McCaffrey will still lead the charge, but Samuel is absolutely part of the plan to mix in at running back. Sincere McCormick made a push to crack the roster, but he can be called back if needed. It’ll be interesting to see how much Black spells McCaffrey this year, but Samuel’s versatility just bought them a ton of options.
Who’s Guarding The Left Side?
If you were hoping for some clarity on who’s starting at left guard for their season opener in Australia against the Rams, the 53-man roster didn’t give us any answers. Rookie Carver Willis and second-year Connor Colby were locks to make the team, but then they went and traded for veteran interior offensive lineman Jarrett Patterson from Houston. Patterson is definitely there to bring a veteran presence. So, who gets the nod? Will it be the fresh face in Willis, the guy with a year under his belt in Colby, or the experienced Patterson for Week 1? A full week of practice leading up to the game should tell us everything.
Linebacker Puzzle Pieces
The 49ers still have some roster gymnastics to do. They need to create two spots for punter Corliss Waitman and long snapper Jon Weeks. The smart money says one or both of Luke Gifford or Nick Martin will get placed on IR to make those moves. They’ve got a deep group with seven linebackers on the initial roster, including Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, Jaden Dugger, Tatum Bethune, and Garrett Wallow. Keep an eye out for potential practice squad returns like Deion Jones or Jalen Graham. They’ll need those special teams options.
The 49ers have a whole week of practice ahead before they kick off their season in Australia against the Rams. Every snap this week is going to matter for figuring out who lines up where, especially on that O-line. Can’t wait to see how these moves play out!
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.
Leave a Reply