The 49ers Position Battles to Watch vs. Denver

The second exhibition game will be pivotal for the 49ers coaching staff in determining who goes where: active roster, practice squad, cut. A look at the position battles heading into the Denver game.

Quarterback

Battle: Trey Lance vs. Sam Darnold for QB2.
Darnold didn’t help his cause with a 1-7 practice on Thursday. While some reports speculate that Brock Purdy could play for a few series in this game, 49ers media dean Matt Maiocco believes that with Purdy’s high reps on Thursday, he won’t play against Denver.

The Denver defense had five sacks and an interception in their pre-season opener against Arizona.

Prediction: Lance wins the backup slot with Kyle Shanahan favoring experience in the system. The opportunity is there for Darnold if he plays clean and well against the Broncos and Chargers.

Running Back

Likely cut: Jeremy McNichols
Practice Squad: Khalan Laborn, Jack Colletto
Battle: The pecking order behind Christian McCaffrey.
Kyle Shanahan has trust in Elijah Mitchell, but health is always an issue. Ty Davis-Price is getting more opportunities than Jordan Mason. Laborn was the top back in the country coming out of high school. His upside could lead a team to claim him on waivers

Prediction: Laborn is a cut risk the Niners will have to take, hoping to keep him on the practice squad.

Wide Receiver

Likely cut: Willie Snead
Practice Squad: Tay Martin
Battle: The last two receiver slots among Ronnie Bell, Chris Conley, Snead, and Martin.
Bell and Conley have the edge based on the Raider game. Snead needs some chances as a returner.

Prediction: Bell and Conley, with Bell remaining on the active roster when Ray-Ray McCloud returns.

Tight End

Likely cut: Charlie Woerner, Troy Fumagalli
Battle: Cameron Latu to make the active roster, Fumagalli vs. Ross Dwelley if the Niners carry four tight ends.

Latu’s drops in practice and the punch-out fumble in Las Vegas have put his roster slot in jeopardy. He was drafted as a blocker and had the best run block of the Raider game, an inside-outside combo block to spring Ty Davis-Price for nine yards late in the third.

If Latu’s hands are this unreliable he becomes an honorary tackle and that limits his role and effectiveness. He lacks the arm length to transition to tackle. Latu could get poached if they cut him, making the practice squad a risk and putting the Niners in a tough spot.

Fumagalli and Dwelley both played well against the Raiders, their competition is tight making the Denver game key. I have Brayden Willis on the team given his athleticism and versatility.

Prediction: Latu makes the roster on his upside, blocking, and draft slot. Dwelley edges Fumagalli but it can go either way.

Offensive Line

Likely cut: Keith Ismael, Jaylon Moore, Matt Pryor
Practice Squad: Joey Fisher, Jason Poe, Nick Zakelj, Leroy Watson
Battle: Undrafted free agents Ilm Manning and Fisher vs. the Niner veterans.
The veterans were awful against the Raiders. The tackles were so bad the Niners brought in three undrafted tackles for workouts this week.

At this point, Poe and Zakelj may be playing for practice squad slots. I have Manning making the active roster given his play and position versatility. Watson and Fisher have shown flashes, but both are raw and need development time.

Prediction: The vets have to go. Moore has been here four years and still hasn’t shown enough. Poe and Zakelj aren’t ready and better young players are now here. I believe the Niners will go shopping on the waiver wire after the final roster cuts across the league. No roster slots after the starters and Jon Feliciano are safe.

Defensive Line

Likely cut: Alex Barrett, Austin Bryant, Taco Charlton, Marlon Davidson, Kerry Hyder, Breeland Speaks
Practice Squad: Spencer Waege, Kalia Davis
Battle: Who survives?
Bryant and Charlton have made solid plays in practice, Hyder and T.Y. McGill are proven in the system, Barrett had three tackles against the Raiders - but no one from this group has earned a slot.

Robert Beal Jr. opened some eyes beating Trent Williams in 1-on-1’s this week. Jason Givens should be safe and Clelin Ferrell had the lone sack in Las Vegas. Those three and the starters are seven. That leaves two more slots. Javon Kinlaw, McGill, the cut group, and any additions from the final cut waiver wire.

Prediction: For the final two I think they go with Kinlaw and a waiver wire addition.

Linebacker

Likely cuts: Demetrius Flanagan-Fowles, Curtis Robinson
Practice Squad: Kyahva Tezino
Battle: Dee Winters and DFF for the final slot.
The starters, Marcelino McCrary Ball, and Jalen Graham are safe. Flanagan-Fowles plays well on special teams, Winters needs to match that to earn a job. Winters has better sideline-to-sideline speed and he should be the better blitzer based on what he did at TCU. Tezino has played well in limited reps.

The complicating factor for the Niners is they know DeMeco Ryans is waiting in Houston to claim the best linebacker they cut. Winters or Flanagan-Fowles would have no shot to clear waivers and make the practice squad.

Prediction: Winters makes the active roster on his physical upside and DFF heads to Houston.

Secondary

Likely cuts: Nate Brooks, A.J. Parker, Myles Hartsfield
Practice Squad: Tayler Hawkins
Battle: DB2 and nickel.
Deommodore Lenoir will get some reps inside, Ambry Thomas an opportunity outside, and D’Shawn Jamison will get looks as a corner and a returner. Isaiah Oliver played poorly against the Raiders, but I think his strength against the run will help him.

Knight and Hawkins played well against the Raiders. I can see Knight making the active roster for now until Darrell Luter Jr. returns and then move to the practice squad.

Prediction: Ultimately I think the starters will be Charvarius Ward and Luter outside, Lenoir at nickel, with Talanaoa Hufanga and Ji’Ayir Brown at safety.