49ers Shift Focus to Cutdown Day After Walloping Chargers in LA

The 49ers responded to the joint-practice drubbing earlier this week against the LA Chargers by controlling them in a 41-17 pre-season win.

For the second week in a row, the rookies continue to assert that they are the team’s best draft class since 2020.

Entering the game, the 49ers had questions on who would start at left guard and make the final cutdown at receiver.

LG and WR

On the OL, Chris Foerster’s answer was rookie Carver Willis. The Niners have auditioned Willis, Robert Jones, Connor Colby, and Austen Pleasants at left guard. Each has one of the core traits needed for the position but their weaknesses in the remaining skills can fill a hospital wing with injured teammates.

They have one roll of the dice left in free agent signing Brett Toth once he’s cleared to return.

At receiver, Christian Kirk can’t get healthy, and I expect the Niners aren’t going to be as patient with that as they have been in the past given what’s happened with Ricky Pearsall.

The primary task now is to shape the roster into the final 53. Cutdown day is Sunday, August 30th at 3 pm Pacific.

From this point, roster cuts won’t just be an evaluation of talent but an opinion on who can clear waivers after being cut. I call them boomerang cuts, players who can be let go and return to the practice squad.

On the cutting block

Offense
RB: Khalil Herbert, Zamir White
WR: Christian Kirk, Wesley Grimes, Malik Turner, Trenton Irwin
TE: Brayden Willis, Hayden Rucci
OL: Brandon Parker, Doug Kramer Jr., Nick Zakelj

Defense
DL: Alex Barrett, Evan Anderson, Victor Dimukeje, Titus Leo
LB Luke Gifford, Jalen Graham
DB: Eli Apple, Nate Hobbs
S: Patrick McMorris, Jalen Stroman, Siran Neal

Boomerang Cuts to Practice Squad

QB Adrian Martinez

RB Sincere McCormick

WR KhaDarel Hodge, Will Pauling

OL Robert Jones, Austen Pleasants, Drake Nugent

TE Luke Farrell, Josiah Deguera

DL Quinton Bell, Bryson Eason, Sebastian Valdez

LB Larry Worth III

DB Darrell Luter Jr., Jakob Robinson

S Ashtyn Davis

Cutdown signings from other teams

TE, IOL, edge, best secondary player available.

The practice squad ceiling is 16 players, an extra 17th if he is a designated international player, as Isaac Alarcon is with the Niners.

The last three

RB Jordan James – My thinking is if he was cut he would be picked up, so the 49ers choose to keep him.

WR Jacob Cowing – He would have been a boomerang cut, but then the punt return touchdown against the Chargers. Supply and demand for punt returners is so dire Cowing would be at risk of being picked up.

DT James Thompson Jr. – Has shown enough to keep him, cutting him would be a risk.

The final pre-season game is at Las Vegas against the Raiders, Thursday August 27 at 5 pm Pacific.

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