{"id":7808,"date":"2026-08-26T22:10:01","date_gmt":"2026-08-26T22:10:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=7808"},"modified":"2026-08-26T22:10:01","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T22:10:01","slug":"kurtenbach-preseason-doesnt-matter-tell-that-to-the-49ers-fighting-for-jobs-vs-the-raiders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=7808","title":{"rendered":"Kurtenbach: Preseason doesn’t matter? Tell that to the 49ers fighting for jobs vs. the Raiders"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

You might think that preseason football isn\u2019t \u201creal.\u201d<\/p>\n

And in many cases, you\u2019re right.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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The calculus is brutally simple. By Sunday, 36 men currently on the Niners\u2019 active roster will their NFL dreams indefinitely postponed.<\/p>\n

The survivors get a boarding pass for next Wednesday\u2019s 15-hour flight to Melbourne, Australia.<\/p>\n

Everyone else? A handshake, a few kind words, and a box for their stuff.<\/p>\n

Most Niners\u2019 starters won\u2019t sniff the field against Las Vegas. They\u2019ll spend four quarters standing on the sideline in pristine white baseball caps, drinking Gatorade, and trying not to pull a neck muscle while yawning.<\/p>\n

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

\n<\/div>\n

Let\u2019s look at where things stand with this roster, and who has the most to prove in Thursday\u2019s final evaluation:<\/p>\n

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G\u2019day (You Made the Team)<\/h4>\n
    \n
  • QB:<\/strong> Brock Purdy, Mac Jones<\/li>\n
  • RB:<\/strong> Christian McCaffrey, Jordan James, Kaelon Black<\/li>\n
  • FB:<\/strong> Kyle Juszczyk<\/li>\n
  • WR:<\/strong> Deebo Samuel, Mike Evans, DeMarcus Robinson, De\u2019Zhaun Stribling<\/li>\n
  • TE:<\/strong> George Kittle, Luke Farrell, Jake Tonges<\/li>\n
  • OL:<\/strong> Trent Williams (OT), Colton McKivitz (OT), Jake Brendel (C), Dominick Puni (G), Carver Willis (G), Vederian Lowe (OT \u2014 likely IR stash<\/em>), Austen Pleasants (OT\/OG \u2014 knee injury complicates things, but essential as swing tackle \/ perhaps top LG<\/em>)<\/li>\n
  • DL:<\/strong> 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 \u2014 UDFA camp revelation, should start in Melbourne<\/em>)<\/li>\n
  • LB:<\/strong> Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, Garret Wallow, Tatum Bethune, Deion Jones, Jaden Dugger (scrimmage viability TBD, but safe<\/em>)<\/li>\n
  • DB:<\/strong> Deommodore Lenoir (CB), Renardo Green (CB), Jack Jones (CB), Ephesians Prysock (CB), Upton Stout (NB), Ji\u2019Ayir Brown (S), Marques Sigle (S)<\/li>\n
  • Specialists:<\/strong> Eddy Pi\u00f1eiro (K), Corliss Waitman (P), Jon Weeks (LS)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Questions Still Being Asked at Immigration<\/h4>\n
      \n
    • QB:<\/strong> Kurtis Rourke \u2014 practice squad target unless a team poaches him for active 53.<\/em><\/li>\n
    • RB:<\/strong> Sincere McCormick \u2014 special teams value might keep him off PS and on the 53.<\/em><\/li>\n
    • WR:<\/strong> Christian Kirk (likely IR bound<\/em>), Jacob Cowing, Jordan Watkins \u2014 neither Cowing nor Watkins is locked in; waiver wire\/trade additions remain possible.<\/em><\/li>\n
    • TE:<\/strong> Brayden Willis \u2014 No. 4 TE; roster math tricky with Kittle questionable for Australia.<\/em><\/li>\n
    • OL:<\/strong>\n
        \n
      • Connor Colby (G) \u2014 could start at LG, but trust is shaky and lacks versatility.<\/em><\/li>\n
      • Enrique Cruz Jr. (OT) \u2014 unplayable right now; draft pedigree vs. wasted roster spot.<\/em><\/li>\n
      • Robert Jones (G) \u2014 underwhelming camp compounded by injury.<\/em><\/li>\n
      • Doug Kramer (C) vs. Drake Nugent (C) \u2014 Thursday battle for backup C; Kramer brings G flexibility.<\/em><\/li>\n
      • Brett Toth (OT\/G) \u2014 unseen for weeks after a rough start.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
      • DL:<\/strong>\n
          \n
        • Quinton Bell (DE)<\/li>\n
        • Ogbo Okoronkwo (DE) \u2014 51\/49 battle between Bell and Okoronkwo for DE5 with Mykel Williams on PUP.<\/em><\/li>\n
        • Bryson Eason (DT) \u2014 strong camp\/games, but squeezed by numbers; still, a risky waiver exposure.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
        • LB:<\/strong>\n
            \n
          • Luke Gifford \u2014 struggled from scrimmage and hasn\u2019t practiced, but elite on ST.<\/em><\/li>\n
          • Nick Martin \u2014 injured again, no clear role, squarely on the bubble.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
          • DB:<\/strong>\n
              \n
            • Ashtyn Davis (S) \u2014 could make the team as safety No. 4, could have that role but be on practice squad.<\/em><\/li>\n
            • Nate Hobbs (NB) \u2014 nursing injury, but staff likes him.<\/em><\/li>\n
            • Darrell Luter Jr. (CB) \u2014 likely safe, but hasn\u2019t closed the door.<\/em><\/li>\n
            • Malik Mustapha (S) \u2014 injured, non-PUP, and a questionable scheme fit. Could be some roster tomfoolery on deck here.<\/em><\/li>\n
            • Siran Neal (CB\/S) \u2014 pure ST ace; but carrying two non-scrimmage ST specialists is tough.<\/em><\/li>\n
            • Jakob Robinson (CB) \u2014 strong camp and Hobbs injury gives him a real shot.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              We\u2019d Love to Take You, But\u2026<\/h4>\n
                \n
              • WR:<\/strong> KhaDarel Hodge (ST \/ PS stash<\/em>), Malik Turner (ST \/ PS stash<\/em>), Trenton Irwin (a Mac Jones favorite in practice<\/em>), Will Pauling (coach favorite, lacks production<\/em>)<\/li>\n
              • TE:<\/strong> Hayden Rucci<\/li>\n
              • OL:<\/strong> Nick Zakelj (G\/C)<\/li>\n
              • DL:<\/strong> Sebastian Valdez (DT)<\/li>\n
              • LB:<\/strong> Jalen Graham, Larry Worth (a developmental project to keep around<\/em>)<\/li>\n
              • DB:<\/strong> Eli Apple (CB), Patrick McMorris (S), Jalen Stroman (S)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                G\u2019day (You\u2019re Out)<\/h4>\n
                  \n
                • QB:<\/strong> Adrian Martinez<\/li>\n
                • RB:<\/strong> Khalil Herbert<\/li>\n
                • WR:<\/strong> Wesley Grimes<\/li>\n
                • TE:<\/strong> Khalil Dinkins (outside PS chance<\/em>)<\/li>\n
                • OL:<\/strong> Brandon Parker (OT \u2014 but perhaps<\/em> he should hang around town<\/em>)<\/li>\n
                • DL:<\/strong> Evan Anderson (DT), Victor Dimukeje (EDGE\/DE), Viliami Fehoko Jr. (DE)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                  San Francisco 49ers: A look at where the Niners’ 90-man roster stands ahead of cut-down day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7807,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7808","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\nKurtenbach: Preseason doesn’t matter? Tell that to the 49ers fighting for jobs vs. the Raiders - Next City Digest<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=7808\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Kurtenbach: Preseason doesn’t matter? 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