Kurtenbach: Preseason doesn’t matter? Tell that to the 49ers fighting for jobs vs. the Raiders

You might think that preseason football isn’t “real.”

And in many cases, you’re right.

But I can tell you what it is for so many players: extremely public job interviews. And Thursday night in Las Vegas is the final round of a months-long process.

The calculus is brutally simple. By Sunday, 36 men currently on the Niners’ active roster will their NFL dreams indefinitely postponed.

The survivors get a boarding pass for next Wednesday’s 15-hour flight to Melbourne, Australia.

Everyone else? A handshake, a few kind words, and a box for their stuff.

Most Niners’ starters won’t sniff the field against Las Vegas. They’ll spend four quarters standing on the sideline in pristine white baseball caps, drinking Gatorade, and trying not to pull a neck muscle while yawning.

For the guys actually in uniform, this game is everything. I estimate there are eight spots available on the 53-man roster.

Let’s look at where things stand with this roster, and who has the most to prove in Thursday’s final evaluation:

G’day (You Made the Team)

QB: Brock Purdy, Mac Jones
RB: Christian McCaffrey, Jordan James, Kaelon Black
FB: Kyle Juszczyk
WR: Deebo Samuel, Mike Evans, DeMarcus Robinson, De’Zhaun Stribling
TE: George Kittle, Luke Farrell, Jake Tonges
OL: Trent Williams (OT), Colton McKivitz (OT), Jake Brendel (C), Dominick Puni (G), Carver Willis (G), Vederian Lowe (OT — likely IR stash), Austen Pleasants (OT/OG — knee injury complicates things, but essential as swing tackle / perhaps top LG)
DL: Nick Bosa (DE), Keion White (DE), Romello Height (DE), Sam Okuayinonu (DE), Osa Odighizuwa (DT), Alfred Collins (DT), Gracen Halton (DT), C.J. West (DT), James Thompson (DT — UDFA camp revelation, should start in Melbourne)
LB: Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, Garret Wallow, Tatum Bethune, Deion Jones, Jaden Dugger (scrimmage viability TBD, but safe)
DB: Deommodore Lenoir (CB), Renardo Green (CB), Jack Jones (CB), Ephesians Prysock (CB), Upton Stout (NB), Ji’Ayir Brown (S), Marques Sigle (S)
Specialists: Eddy Piñeiro (K), Corliss Waitman (P), Jon Weeks (LS)

Questions Still Being Asked at Immigration

QB: Kurtis Rourke — practice squad target unless a team poaches him for active 53.
RB: Sincere McCormick — special teams value might keep him off PS and on the 53.
WR: Christian Kirk (likely IR bound), Jacob Cowing, Jordan Watkins — neither Cowing nor Watkins is locked in; waiver wire/trade additions remain possible.
TE: Brayden Willis — No. 4 TE; roster math tricky with Kittle questionable for Australia.
OL:
- Connor Colby (G) — could start at LG, but trust is shaky and lacks versatility.
- Enrique Cruz Jr. (OT) — unplayable right now; draft pedigree vs. wasted roster spot.
- Robert Jones (G) — underwhelming camp compounded by injury.
- Doug Kramer (C) vs. Drake Nugent (C) — Thursday battle for backup C; Kramer brings G flexibility.
- Brett Toth (OT/G) — unseen for weeks after a rough start.
DL:
- Quinton Bell (DE)
- Ogbo Okoronkwo (DE) — 51/49 battle between Bell and Okoronkwo for DE5 with Mykel Williams on PUP.
- Bryson Eason (DT) — strong camp/games, but squeezed by numbers; still, a risky waiver exposure.
LB:
- Luke Gifford — struggled from scrimmage and hasn’t practiced, but elite on ST.
- Nick Martin — injured again, no clear role, squarely on the bubble.
DB:
- Ashtyn Davis (S) — could make the team as safety No. 4, could have that role but be on practice squad.
- Nate Hobbs (NB) — nursing injury, but staff likes him.
- Darrell Luter Jr. (CB) — likely safe, but hasn’t closed the door.
- Malik Mustapha (S) — injured, non-PUP, and a questionable scheme fit. Could be some roster tomfoolery on deck here.
- Siran Neal (CB/S) — pure ST ace; but carrying two non-scrimmage ST specialists is tough.
- Jakob Robinson (CB) — strong camp and Hobbs injury gives him a real shot.

We’d Love to Take You, But…

WR: KhaDarel Hodge (ST / PS stash), Malik Turner (ST / PS stash), Trenton Irwin (a Mac Jones favorite in practice), Will Pauling (coach favorite, lacks production)
TE: Hayden Rucci
OL: Nick Zakelj (G/C)
DL: Sebastian Valdez (DT)
LB: Jalen Graham, Larry Worth (a developmental project to keep around)
DB: Eli Apple (CB), Patrick McMorris (S), Jalen Stroman (S)