49ers Preseason Week 3 Recap
The 49ers won their final preseason game by a score of 18-12 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The preseason has concluded for the San Francisco 49ers. Roster cutdown day is on Sunday, 8/28. My 53 man roster prediction will come out shortly after this article.
Who stood out in Week 3?
Did anyone increase their chances of making the 53 man roster?
Were there any major takeaways from the second week of preseason games?
Let's discuss.
Again, as we all know, preseason is preseason. But it is still fun to watch, and although we can't know what the coaches are 100% looking for, these games do matter for roster decisions.
Defensive Tackles
As stated in the two previous recap articles, I anticipate the 49ers keeping 5 defensive tackles. And I also anticipate there to be 4 locks, and two of those "locks" played on Thursday. So I took a final look at who has the edge for the fifth roster spot, as well as how the 2025 DT draftees looked.
There is a film thread on the defensive tackles on my twitter, linked here.
CJ West
West missed a lot of training camp with a concussion and a separate undisclosed issue. This was his first action since the Divisional Round last season. It looks like West put on more weight this for this season, but still has a pretty great get-off. And his hands look strong at times, a positive considering he usually lands the first punch.
Alfred Collins
Collins is coming off a major offseason shoulder surgery, but has played in all three preseason games. But his recovery kept him out for the first half of training camp. It may be a tough first half of the season as Collins truly recovers from his injury. But it's been bad film for Collins in the preseason. Zero pass rush development, and he gets moved too easily and too often for being 330lbs.
James Thompson Jr
The 2026 UDFA has earned a good amount of praise this offseason, deservedly so. A pass rush plan and multiple ways to stop the run, Thompson knows how to play football. He's not just a big body. His get-off is decent too, although he often comes in too high out of his stance.
Bryson Eason
The other 2026 UDFA has also had his praises sung. Eason has a true anchor in the run game, he can hold a double team. But that's really all he offers. I'm not sure, as a UDFA, it's enough to force himself onto the roster.
Sebastian Valdez
Valdez is the only one here who plays special teams snaps, which may be a factor in him hopping on to the end of the roster. He's also just a bowling ball who can impact the pocket, but is light enough to dance around the line of scrimmage to contribute against the run.
C Drake Nugent
Nugent enters Year 3 out of Michigan, where he was apart of a Joe Moore Award winning offensive line and a National Championship squad. Having spent the first two years on the practice squad, Nugent's best chance to crack the roster is probably right now.
Veteran signee Brett Toth is still out with a concussion, and has been for over three weeks. Toth suffered a concussion at the end of last season as well, so this is dangerous territory for the veteran. This leaves Nugent as the 49ers' best option at backup center.
Nugent looked fine against the Raiders, with the run game firing while he was at center. He executed assignments, and handles defenders lined up at nose very well, both in pass and run designs. He is not the best blocker at the second level, as he does not always connect on his man. But again, the run game worked with Nugent in the game.
Ideally, the 49ers do not need Nugent to see the field. But I do think he could be a viable backup option if Toth can not go. The LG situation makes Nugent playing less viable.
Monitoring Stock...
LG Carver Willis
I mentioned the left guard situation above, and while it still has not been resolved, Willis may be the answer. Robert Jones is still out, Brett Toth is out, and Connor Colby has played exclusively RG in the preseason. The 4th round rookie seems to the the guy.
And he looked excellent against Las Vegas. Something I have been thinking about with Willis is the 10 days he missed of training camp with a concussion. He missed 10 days of what are crucial practices for a rookie, and has improved over each preseason game. The improvement rate tells me that, had Willis not missed those 10 days, we may be a lot more confident in him right now. And those 10 practices are especially important when you are making a position change.
Willis moves well in the run game and hits his markers. He can double and climb seamlessly. He's been good in pass protection, as a natural LT, but did allow the pocket to be effected a couple times on Thursday. I like Robert Jones, but Willis seems to be the obvious answer at left guard.
Stock Up!
Tight Ends
It's unlikely the 49ers keep a 4th TE on their roster, but George Kittle's Week 1 status is up in the air, Luke Farrell did not play well in 2025, and Kyle Juszczyk has a broken finger as the FB. Even if San Francisco only keeps three guys, TE4 is an important position, as they will likely get the practice squad call-up at some point.
Khalil Dinkins
Dinkins was my favorite signing of the 49ers 2026 UDFA class. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury in between OTAs and training camp, and was released. The 49ers brought hinm back once he got healthy, which was a week ago. He is such a natural blocker. He knows where to target, he knows how to give a friendly chip to help out his fellow blockers, and he can dominate DBs. Dinkins, who came in at 251lbs at the combine, is also a very athletic mover in space. He looked very solid for a guy coming off an injury in his first NFL action. I would love for him to be on the practice squad, and have a real shot at the roster in 2027.
Stock Up!
Hayden Rucci
The 49ers signed Rucci to a futures contract at the end of the 2025 season, and he has lasted all offseason. Rucci is a bigger TE and is surprising athletic. He has looked good whenever the ball is in his hands. Rucci has also gotten some time at FB in the preseason and is effective.
Stock Up!
Brayden Willis
The 2023 7th round pick has spent his career on the practice squad, has zero career receptions, and is now concussed. While Willis has not been impressive this preseason, he has looked far more comfortable as a FB, being very effective doubling and climbing to the second level and beyond.
With Willis' concussion, Rucci might surpass him, as he's bigger and better with the ball in his hands. Although Willis has never really had the chance to showcase what he can do with the ball in his hands.
Monitoring Stock...
Running Backs
The 49ers have two young running backs on their roster, and I was just excited to watch them. Ideally, Christian McCaffrey's 311 carries from last year drops down close to teh 200 mark, or even below. The young guys will need to bring explosive runs all season long.
Jordan James
The 5th rounder in 2025 broke his hand last training camp and missed the entire preseason, which led the 49ers to trade for Brian Robinson Jr, pushing James down the depth chart. He appeared in three games, charting zero carries. His only touches came in the blowout Divisional Round game. So this preseason game was James' second game as a 49er where he carried the rock. And he looked good. He's not ultra quick or explosive, but he can break tackles and runs hard. James also looked good fantastic on a screen pass, maneuvering great in space.
Stock Up!
Kaelon Black
Black is explosive and runs hard, yet almost always hits the right hole. His explosion and downhill ability will be a nice breath of fresh air for the 49ers and Christian McCaffrey. They need positive yards, and Black can provide that.
Stock Up!
Linebackers
The backers have been the most interesting position to track this season for many reasons. For one, it's the best position group on the team. I believe they have 8 NFL caliber guys in this room, not counting the new addition of veteran Deion Jones. But also just the intrigue of where certain guys will play in Raheem Morris' defense.
Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw are healthy and have sat out all preseason. Luke Gifford has sat out with a hamstring issue. Nick Martin played the first two weeks, but injured his hamstring in Week 2 and was out this week. Garret Wallow started at MIKE for the first two weeks, but sat out (healthily) in the final week. Tatum Bethune started at MIKE, with Jalen Graham at WILL, and Jaden Dugger at SAM.
Jaden Dugger
Dugger played the "WILL" spot the first two weeks, with Martin at SAM. My theory was that Martin was the starting SAM for the 49ers, so they wanted him to get comfortable at that position. He is now out, for an unknown amount of time. Dugger saw more of the "SAM" looks this week, but was still the WILL in nickel sets. It appears Dugger is moving closer to being on the field.
Dugger still looks good, but can occasionally get lost in the shuffle in the middle of the field. This is why I prefer him as the "SAM", where can contain the run and impact the QB on bootlegs. The problem is that he whiffed badly on an open field tackle against the Raiders starters, a one-on-one opportunity on the outside.
Stock Up!
Tatum Bethune
Although his backup MIKE spot was seemingly snatched, Bethune continues to show up this preseason. He can cover ground in the run game, and his coverage drops actually looked good in the preseason, better than last season. Bethune is a good player, if he was released I would bet a team signs him to their 53 man roster.
Stock Up!
Jalen Graham
Graham was a 7th rounder in 2023, and was cut in August 2024 and left for Washington. The 49ers eventually brought him back around, and he looks much improved in Year 4. He's a good special teamer but looked comfortable at all spots at LB in this preseason. I would be surprised if he makes the team, simply because of the depth at LB, but Graham definitely belongs as a depth piece on an NFL roster.
Stock Up!
Injuries:
CB Ephesians Prysock left with a shoulder issue(AC joint) and did not return.
TE Brayden Willis left with a concussion.
LB Jalen Graham went into concussion protocol but returned to the game.
With all this in mind, here is an updated version of my depth chart, with an additional category. I could add even more, but it may be too colorful and confusing.
I added a practice squad candidate category. Do not perceive this as negative. These players are not currently in a favorable position to make the 53 man roster, but the 49ers would love to keep them around.
Some more details:
Players in yellow(signings made in training camp) I could see being favorable practice squad options:
RB Sincere McCormick
WR KhaDarel Hodge
DEs Ogbo Okoronkwo, Quinton Bell
LB Deion Jones
Players not colored that are I believe are closer to making the roster than being on the practice squad:
QB Kurtis Rourke
WRs Christian Kirk, Jordan Watkins, Jacob Cowing
TEs Brayden Willis, Hayden Rucci
OL Brett Toth, Connor Colby, Robert Jones, Austen Pleasants
DTs Sebastian Valdez, James Thompson Jr
LBs Tatum Bethune, Nick Martin
CBs Siran Neal, Nate Hobbs, Darrell Luter Jr
Let me know who impressed you in the 49ers final preseason game! Who disappointed you this preseason? And who are you rooting for to make the roster?
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