Jerick McKinnon might make the initial 53-man roster but be placed on short- or long-term injured reserve soon after.
Then you have the fact that San Francisco would like to keep three quarterbacks. That will be difficult because that extra roster spot has to come from somewhere. Former third-round pick C.J. Beathard could be the odd man out.
What about Jeff Wilson? He competed hard during Thursday night's loss, racking up 100 yards on 20 carries with a touchdown on the ground. If the 49ers expose him to the waiver wire, could another team swoop in and snatch him up?
Twenty carries in the fourth preseason game is a lot for a player who might make the regular-season roster. Typically, the guys in street clothes on the sideline are safe and will be on the team come Saturday. Those who start the game and are pulled early are being strongly considered for reserve roles. Those who play a lot, as Wilson did, are less likely to make the roster.
Of course, Wilson averaged five yards per carry and had an impressive touchdown run in the first quarter after changing direction and behind a Beathard block (impressive on its own). Was the performance enough to convince the coaches and front office that he can contribute in 2019? Or were the 20 carries telling that Wilson might receive a phone call or visit from the Turk over the next two days?
Shanahan warned reporters on Thursday night not to read too much into the running back's workload during the game.
"I mean, it's that or throw, and we had two guys (Wilson and Austin Walter), we brought back (Brandon) Wilds for the week to see what happened," Shanahan said. "But no, you want to run the ball a lot in this last game, and when you block well, and you run hard, you usually get more carries, so that was a credit to him."
What did Shanahan think about Wilson's performance?
"Yeah, we wanted to run the ball tonight," Shanahan responded, "and he did a real good job in that first half. I think he got a little bit there in the third quarter; I can't remember exactly. Jeff ran very well. Walter ran well. I thought the guys blocked for him good also."
The roster cutdown will begin today with the 53-player squad being finalized by Saturday at 1 p.m. PT. And by "finalized," I mean temporarily finalized, if that makes sense. It is guaranteed to be tweaked leading to the 49ers' regular-season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 8. For example, as stated, McKinnon may make the 53-player roster but soon be placed on injured reserve, opening up a roster spot for someone else.
Maybe Wilson did enough against the Chargers to prove he should be brought back, assuming another team wasn't impressed by Thursday night's outing.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
2025 NFL Draft: How did experts grade the 49ers' draft class?
The 2025 NFL Draft is officially in the books, and the San Francisco 49ers walked away with 11 new players—five on offense and six on defense. Soon, the coaching staff will begin working with this (hopefully) promising group of rookies, aiming to maximize each player's... -
49ers' Mykel Williams reveals plan to improve his game
The newest addition to the San Francisco 49ers, former Georgia defensive end Mykel Williams, arrived in Santa Clara on Friday and met with Bay Area reporters in person for the first time. At just 20 years old, the young defender is eager to get to work and develop his skills at... -
Lifelong 49ers fan living his dream after being drafted by San Francisco
Not many San Francisco 49ers fans were familiar with Montana wide receiver Junior Bergen, the seventh-round draft pick the team hopes will contribute as a returner on special teams. However, Bergen knows all about the Niners, as he's been a lifelong fan, a fact he shared during... -
Baldy breaks down potential impact of key 49ers draft picks
NFL analyst Brian Baldinger recently shared his breakdown of key San Francisco 49ers draft picks, highlighting the team's effort to rebuild its depleted defensive line with several early selections. Baldinger provided detailed insights on four players from the 49ers' 11-man...