Here’s the 53-man roster for Week 1 (unless Trent Baalke makes another trade).
Offense
QB (2): Colin Kaepernick, Blaine Gabbert
The “maybe Gabbert gets a look if Kap struggles through the first four weeks” conversation is already picking up steam on local talk radio.
RB (4): Carlos Hyde, Reggie Bush, Mike Davis, Jarryd Hayne
Kendall Hunter was placed on injured reserve.
FB (1): Bruce Miller
Will he start the season on the suspended list, along with Jerome Simpson?
WR (5): Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith, Quinton Patton, Bruce Ellington, DeAndrew White
Ellington could be the key. If he breaks out and becomes a topflight slot receiver, everyone else on offense suddenly looks a lot better.
TE (4): Vernon Davis, Vance McDonald, Garrett Celek, Blake Bell
Who knows what we can expect from this group. I thought the 49ers had the best set of tight ends in the league last year — that’s how up-and-down these guys can be.
OT (3): Joe Staley, Erik Pears, Trent Brown
The earlier Brown is good enough to replace Pears, the better.
OG (4): Alex Boone, Jordan Devey, Brandon Thomas, Ian Silberman
The 49ers got Devey for a tight end (Asante Cleveland) the Patriots released today.
C (2): Marcus Martin, Nick Easton
Baalke traded a conditional draft pick to the Ravens today for Easton, an undrafted lineman out of Harvard.
Defense
DT (4): Quinton Dial, Tank Carradine, Tony Jerod-Eddie, Arik Armstead
I figured they’d keep TJE … Jim Tomusla sure does love him some TJE.
NT (3): Ian Williams, Glenn Dorsey, Mike Purcell
Congrats to Purcell. Don’t tell him that preseason doesn’t matter, because that’s why he’s on this team.
OLB (4): Ahmad Brooks, Corey Lemonier, Aaron Lynch, Eli Harold
Brooks remains on the active roster, per today’s statement from the team:
“We have been in close communication with the league and a preliminary status decision has been made regarding Ahmad Brooks. Ahmad will remain on the active roster. In addition to the steps the organization has taken to this point, both the judicial and the league process under the Personal Conduct Policy will continue. Those processes will dictate any further action.”
In other words: “We need outside linebackers desperately, so he’s on the team until he’s convicted or the NFL says he’s not.”
ILB (4): NaVorro Bowman, Michael Wilhoite, Nick Bellore, Shayne Skov
Nick Moody was cut, which surprised just about everyone. It’s a cut I agree with, however. Moody is an undisciplined player who takes too many bad angles and misses too many tackles. Skov isn’t quite the athlete Moody is, but the 49ers gave him play-calling duties throughout the preseason. It’d be hard to see them doing the same with Moody.
CB (5): Tramaine Brock, Kenneth Acker, Keith Reaser, Dontae Johnson, Shareece Wright
Wright looked like the worst player in this group during the preseason, although one has to wonder if Brock can stay healthy for longer than a game or two at a time.
S (5): Eric Reid, Antoine Bethea, Jimmie Ward, L.J. McCray, Jaquiski Tartt
Probably the group with the highest ceiling on the team … it probably should be after safeties were taken early in each of the last three drafts.
Specialists
K (1): Phil Dawson
The 49ers continue their recent trend of employing old kickers.
P (1): Bradley Pinion
It’s going to be weird not seeing Andy Lee back there.
LS (1): Kyle Nelson
He snaps the ball long.
Today’s cuts:
- WR DiAndre Campbell
- CB Marcus Cromartie
- G/C Dillon Farrell
- RB Kendall Gaskins
- TE Xavier Grimble
- CB Leon McFadden
- LB Nick Moody
- DT Kaleb Ramsey
- OL Justin Renfrow
- DL Marcus Rush
- NT Garrison Smith
- QB Dylan Thompson
- G Andrew Tiller
- S Jermaine Whitehead
Injured Reserve: Kendall Hunter, Busta Anderson (I was wondering how they’d figure out a way to keep him.)
Reserve/PUP: C Daniel Kilgore
Reserve/NFI: WR DeAndre Smelter
Reserve/Suspended: Jerome Simpson
