{"id":8042,"date":"2026-08-30T23:36:39","date_gmt":"2026-08-30T23:36:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=8042"},"modified":"2026-08-30T23:36:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-30T23:36:39","slug":"instant-analysis-of-49ers-initial-53-man-roster-at-nfl-deadline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=8042","title":{"rendered":"Instant analysis of 49ers’ initial 53-man roster at NFL deadline"},"content":{"rendered":"
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SANTA CLARA \u2013 Courageously, the 49ers resisted any urge Sunday to save all 53 roster spots for offensive linemen.<\/p>\n

Read more A woman somehow survived being hit by an Amtrak train in Richmond. Now she\u2019s suing the city<\/a><\/p>\n

Two hours before the NFL\u2019s roster deadline, the 49ers learned defensive menace Aaron Donald officially unretired and returned to their season-opening opponent, the Los Angeles Rams.<\/p>\n

After all, come Week 1 in Melbourne, Australia, the 49ers must protect Brock Purdy, open lanes for Christian McCaffrey, and invincibly block both Donald and Myles Garrett, who\u2019ve combined to win five of the past nine NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards.<\/p>\n

Ah, but the 49ers did make a pre-deadline move for an offensive lineman: Jarrett Patterson, a fourth-year guard and center, was acquired from the Houston Texans for a 2027 seventh-round pick, ESPN first reported.<\/p>\n

The 49ers auditioned four contestants at first-string left guard during training camp, not including veteran Brett Toth, who missed the past month and got placed Sunday on Injured Reserve with fellow interior lineman Nick Zakelj. Patterson has started 21 of 39 games played since arriving as a 2023 sixth-round pick from Notre Dame.<\/p>\n

Alas, the 49ers will not be unveiling a 5-5-1 formation (five linemen, backed up by five linemen, then Brock Purdy). Here are some quick thoughts before a position-by-position look:<\/p>\n

SPECIAL CUTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

They cut both their punter, Corliss Waitman, and long snapper, Jon Weeks. Neither is subject to waivers and can re-sign Monday. Waitman opened camp in competition with undrafted rookie Jack Bouwmeester, an Australian native who was waived by the Rams on Sunday.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

SHORT-TERM IR PICKS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wide receiver Christian Kirk and offensive lineman Austen Pleasants drew both the 49ers\u2019 maximum-allowed designations to return off the Injured Reserve list. Kirk injured his calf in the first practice of camp, and Pleasants sustained a knee injury in an Aug. 20 preseason win at the Los Angeles Chargers.<\/p>\n

Assigned to Injured Reserve for the season, unless they\u2019re released off it, are offensive lineman Brett Toth and Nick Zaeklj.<\/p>\n

Read more Armed man at large after shootout with Oakland Police<\/a><\/p>\n

Remaaining on the Physically Unable To Perform list, and thus ineligible through at least the first four games, are defensive end Mykel Williams and running back Isaac Guerendo.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

UNDRAFTED SUCCESS STORY<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the most sentimental storylines on roster-reveal day is which undrafted rookies made the cut, and in the 49ers\u2019 case Sunday, it was defensive tackle James Thompson. The 6-foot-6, 308-pounder was at Wisconsin from 2020-24 before finishing at Illinois last season and entering the 49ers\u2019 defensive-line rotation this season, perhaps even usurping Alfred Collins in the starting lineup next to Osa Odighizuwa.<\/p>\n

INFORMATION AGE<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 49ers\u2019 veteran-laden starting offense, as projected, carries an average age of 31, whereas the defense is 26.<\/p>\n

Projected offensive starters: Purdy (26), McCaffrey (30), Kyle Juszczyk (35), Mike Evans (33), Deebo Samuel (30), George Kittle (32), Trent Williams (38), Carver Willis (24), Jake Brendel (33), Dominick Puni (26), and Colton McKivitz (30).<\/p>\n

Projected defensive starters: Nick Bosa (28), Osa Odighizuwa (28), Alfred Collins (24), Sam Okuayinonu (28), Fred Warner (29), Dre Greenlaw (29), Nick Martin (23), Deommodore Lenoir (26), Renardo Green (25), Ji\u2019Ayir Brown (26), Marques Sigle (24).<\/p>\n

Here are the first impressions of the 49ers\u2019 initial 53-man roster that was revealed at Sunday\u2019s NFL deadline:<\/p>\n

QUARTERBACKS (3)<\/h2>\n

Brock Purdy<\/p>\n

Mac Jones<\/p>\n

Kurtis Rourke<\/p>\n

WAIVED: Adrian Martinez<\/p>\n

RUNNING BACK (4)<\/h2>\n

Christian McCaffrey<\/p>\n

Kyle Juszczyk<\/p>\n

Kaelon Black<\/p>\n

Jordan James<\/p>\n

RELEASED: Khalil Herbert<\/p>\n

WAIVED: Sincere McCormick<\/p>\n

PUP: *Isaac Guerendo (on Physically Unable To Perform List)<\/p>\n

WIDE RECEIVER (6)<\/h2>\n

Mike Evans<\/p>\n

Deebo Samuel<\/p>\n

De\u2019Zhaun Stribling<\/p>\n

Jacob Cowing<\/p>\n

Demarcus Robinson<\/p>\n

Jordan Watkins<\/p>\n

RELEASED: Malik Turner,KhaDarel Hodge, Trenton Irwin<\/p>\n

WAIVED: Will Pauling, Wesley Grimes<\/p>\n

SHORT-TERM IR: Christian Kirk<\/p>\n

*Brandon Aiyuk remains on the reserve\/left squad list<\/p>\n

TIGHT END (4)<\/h2>\n

George Kittle<\/p>\n

Jake Tonges<\/p>\n

Luke Farrell<\/p>\n

Brayden Willis<\/p>\n

WAIVED: Hayden Rucci, Khalil Dinkins<\/p>\n

OFFENSIVE LINE (9)<\/h2>\n

Trent Williams<\/p>\n

Jake Brendel<\/p>\n

Dominick Puni<\/p>\n

Colton McKivitz<\/p>\n

Carver Willis<\/p>\n

Connor Colby<\/p>\n

Enrique Cruz Jr.<\/p>\n

Vederian Lowe<\/p>\n

Jarrett Patterson<\/p>\n

RELEASED: Robert Jones, Doug Kramer, Brandon Parker<\/p>\n

WAIVED: Isaac Alarcon, Drake Nugent<\/p>\n

INJURED RESERVE: Brett Toth, Nick Zakelj<\/p>\n

SHORT-TERM IR: Austen Pleasants<\/p>\n

* * *<\/p>\n

DEFENSIVE LINE (9)<\/h2>\n

Nick Bosa<\/p>\n

Mykel Williams<\/p>\n

Keion White<\/p>\n

Osa Odighizuwa<\/p>\n

Gracen Halton<\/p>\n

Alfred Collins<\/p>\n

C.J. West<\/p>\n

Romello Height<\/p>\n

James Thompson<\/p>\n

RELEASED: Quinton Bell,\u00a0Ogbo Okoronkwo,<\/p>\n

WAIVED: Evan Anderson, Bryson Eason, Sebastian Valdez, Jah Joyner, Viliami Fehoko Jr., Evan Anderson<\/p>\n

LINEBACKER (7)<\/h2>\n

Fred Warner<\/p>\n

Dre Greenlaw<\/p>\n

Tatum Bethune<\/p>\n

Nick Martin<\/p>\n

Luke Gifford<\/p>\n

Jaden Dugger<\/p>\n

Garrett Wallow<\/p>\n

RELEASED: Deion Jones<\/p>\n

WAIVED: Jalen Graham, Larry Worth III<\/p>\n

CORNERBACK (6)<\/h2>\n

Deommodore Lenoir<\/p>\n

Renardo Green<\/p>\n

Upton Stout<\/p>\n

Jack Jones<\/p>\n

Ephesians Prysock<\/p>\n

Nate Hobbs<\/p>\n

RELEASED: Eli Apple<\/p>\n

WAIVED: Darrell Luter Jr., Jakob Robinson<\/p>\n

SAFETY (4)<\/h2>\n

Ji\u2019Ayir Brown<\/p>\n

Marques Sigle<\/p>\n

Malik Mustapha<\/p>\n

Siran Neal<\/p>\n

RELEASED: Ashytn Davis<\/p>\n

WAIVED:\u00a0Jalen Stroman, Patrick McMoris<\/p>\n

SPECIALISTS (1)<\/h2>\n

Eddy Pi\u00f1eiro (K)<\/p>\n

RELEASED: Jon Weeks (LS), Corliss Waitman (P)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Read more US strikes rocket launchers in first military action in weeks against Iran<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here are some first impressions of the 49ers’ initial 53-man roster that got revealed Sunday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8041,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8042","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\nInstant analysis of 49ers’ initial 53-man roster at NFL deadline - 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=8042\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Instant analysis of 49ers’ initial 53-man roster at NFL deadline - Next City Digest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Here are some first impressions of the 49ers' initial 53-man roster that got revealed Sunday.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=8042\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Next City Digest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-08-30T23:36:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=8042#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=8042\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/13065d40d633843429ac57d4e5c06f9b\"},\"headline\":\"Instant analysis of 49ers’ initial 53-man roster at NFL deadline\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-30T23:36:39+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=8042\"},\"wordCount\":801,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=8042#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/6692c608f8ad4032767d0627d5188e11-scaled.webp\",\"articleSection\":[\"Sports\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=8042#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=8042\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=8042\",\"name\":\"Instant analysis of 49ers’ initial 53-man roster at NFL deadline - 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