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One of the best and most comprehensive features we offer every year is our Footballguys Preseason Updates. Every week this month, Bob Henry, Jason Wood, Clayton Gray, and their team of Footballguys Staffers cover every player that matters from every NFL team. It's 32-plus pages of some of the most comprehensive coverage you'll find. It's probably worth the Footballguys Premium Subscription by itself.
Updates from Week 4
If you're in a hurry, check out Joe Bryant's Preseason Insights: What You Need To Know This Week.
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
Several of the starters suited up on Friday night. Brock Purdy opened his evening with a beautiful pass that Deebo Samuel even more beautifully caught. George Kittle also played, and the difference between the first-team offense and the backups we had been watching in the previous weeks was clear. Purdy looks primed and ready. He even reminded us that he got some mobility, scrambling for 13 yards on the second drive.
Brandon Allen and Josh Dobbs continued to battle for the backup position, and Allen had the first crack on Friday night, going 5-of-7 for 60 yards, but was sacked twice. Dobbs entered the game in the third quarter and finished the night with 72 yards and a touchdown to Jacob Cowing over the middle. Dobbs did not use his legs in the finale, but he has scored two rushing touchdowns in the preseason. Coach Shanahan says the No. 2 competition remains too close to call, although both should make the 53-man roster.
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
Jordan Mason started the preseason finale, even though Elijah Mitchell returned to practice on Wednesday. Mason looked solid and decisive, taking almost every carry when he was on the field and excellently falling forward on tackles to get extra yards. He also excelled as a pass catcher. If Christian McCaffrey were to go down, Mason would be a priority waiver wire target. We hadn’t seen rookie Isaac Guerendo this preseason due to a hamstring injury, but he made an immediate impact in his debut on Friday. He led the team with 11 attempts for 32 yards. Like Mason, he also showed his receiving skills, catching his two targets. The running back room should consist of McCaffrey, Mason, Mitchell, and Guerendo. Rookie Cody Schrader is probably heading to the practice squad but showed enough this summer to project as a future contributor.
Preseason Updates: Wide Receivers
Brandon Aiyuk has yet to practice as the regular-season kickoff moves ever closer. Coach Shanahan dryly told reporters, “Oh, so much has changed—no, I’m just joking. No new updates. I’m sorry to keep being boring with that, but I wish I was saying something different. But nothing’s changed yet.” Social media blew up when Aiyuk traveled to Las Vegas for the final preseason game with the team, but it’s unclear whether that means much.
Deebo Samuel started the game, leaving after three targets. Jacob Cowing took over, going 3-for-3 and scoring the only receiving touchdown. Cowing has steadily improved throughout the summer. Ronnie Bell battled for his roster spot on Friday night, fielding returns and making the most of the opportunity. In the third quarter, he turned what should have been negative yardage into a positive play, slipping in and out of tackles. Assuming Aiyuk returns, the team also has Samuel, Jauan Jennings, and Ricky Pearsall, leaving two spots potentially on the initial 53-man roster. After Cowing’s impressive preseason outings, he’s likely earned one of those spots.
Preseason Updates: Tight Ends
The journey to find a strong backup behind George Kittle continued this week with the team re-signing veteran Logan Thomas. The move is needed as the four other tight ends the 49ers have been auditioning have been inconsistent. Brayden Willis joined Kittle in the starting lineup against the Raiders, catching both of his passes. We didn’t see Eric Saubert on Friday night, but he has a good chance to make the roster. Cameron Latu and Willis will probably battle for the last spot if the team keeps four tight ends. Latu had a decent game with a 24-yard catch from Brandon Allen that caused Kittle to get excited, so there is a battle there.
Preseason Updates: Defense
Defensive end Leonard Floyd ended the Raiders' first drive with a sack of Nathan Peterman but got hurt late in the first quarter. The play after his injury, the defense forced a fumble. With this injury, the more significant issue is who the 49ers will start opposite Nick Bosa on the edge. Floyd was one of the options, as was Yetur Gross-Matos, but both left Friday’s game with knee injuries. On a positive note, both were moving around on the sideline later in the game. On Sunday, 49ers beat reporter Matt Maiocco reported that both players look to have avoided serious injuries. Shanahan said Gross-Matos is “week to week.” The results are even better for Floyd, considered “day-to-day.” Conversely, it still looks like safety Talanoa Hufanga, recovering from a torn ACL, could start the season on the PUP list.
Preseason Updates: Returners
A few weeks ago, it seemed like Trent Taylor and Ronnie Bell would be the top returners, and Isaac Guerendo and Jacob Cowing would be off the roster, but a strong close from the latter two muddies the picture. Whichever of the four makes the final 53-man roster will undoubtedly be involved in returns this year.
Updates from Week 3
If you're in a hurry, check out Joe Bryant's Preseason Insights: What You Need To Know This Week.
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
Brock Purdy didn't see any action against the Tennessee Titans in the first preseason game last week, which was expected. The battle for the backup quarterback position continued this week in practice, and it came to a head on Sunday night against the New Orleans Saints. Purdy started the game, which was not a surprise, as head coach Kyle Shanahan had alluded to it earlier in the week. Purdy played three series, gaining only 12 yards on 11 plays. After only one first down and being hit at least three times, he sat down, and Joshua Dobbs came in. Dobbs connected on his first two throws and ended his first series perfectly, going 6-for-6 for 48 yards. Dobbs looked confident with quick reads and stayed calm under pressure, even hitting a 13-yard scramble at one point. It was a good reminder that Dobbs is capable on the ground—he had 421 yards rushing last year in 13 games. He ran in a touchdown just before halftime, and the crowd at Levi’s went wild. He looks to have the backup quarterback position solidified with that strong performance.
Brandon Allen started the third quarter and looked less comfortable than Dobbs but did have some strong throws, including one to Ronnie Bell late in the third quarter. Bell did not come down with it, but Allen adjusted well to put the ball in the best position. Rookie Tanner Mordecai finished the game, playing the fourth quarter, and he looked poised and confident. Going into Sunday night, it seemed Mordecai might be the odd man out in the quarterback room and miss out on the roster, but he might usurp Allen in the pecking order with his performance.
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
Christian McCaffrey and Kyle Juszczyk did not play Sunday night, along with Jordan Mason, who was battling soreness. Cody Schrader got the start, and the 5-foot-9 rookie received the bulk of the carries. There aren't many camp battles in San Francisco, but a running back slot is up for grabs. Schrader showed grit and flexibility as a pass catcher, commanding three targets to go with seven carries. His efficiency was subpar, however, converting those carries into only 15 yards. It might come down to the preference for the dependable veteran Matt Breida or the explosive rookie Schrader when cuts are made.
Preseason Updates: Wide Receivers
The Brandon Aiyuk drama continues, with back-and-forth between Pittsburgh and San Francisco. Aiyuk was spotted at practice (not participating) in Santa Clara this week, which is a positive sign for him re-signing with the 49ers, yet no contract is in place with just three weeks to go before Week 1. Deebo Samuel is manifesting a positive outcome. "Can we win a Super Bowl without Aiyuk? I think [Aiyuk] is going to be a part of this team, so we don't have to worry about that," Samuel told Kay Adams in a recent interview. No. 3 receiver Jauan Jennings missed the game because of an oblique injury. Jacob Cowing built on a solid week at practice and capitalized during the game, catching all four of his targets, including a beautiful 38-yard catch from Dobbs. Cowing replaced Ronnie Bell in the starting lineup, and Bell didn't see his first snap until the second quarter when all the starters had left the game. He looks unlikely to make the roster, along with Danny Gray.
Preseason Updates: Tight Ends
George Kittle stands to be the biggest beneficiary of a Brandon Aiyuk trade, should it come to pass. The battle for the No. 2 spot continues, with Eric Saubert and Brayden Willis getting the start. Cameron Latu and Jake Tonges joined the game later, and Saubert had the fewest targets in the group, with two. Latu had a drop, which will not help his cause. USA Today projects Willis and Tonges as the No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, but they acknowledge that things can change in the next week or two.
Preseason Updates: Defense
Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir is arguably having the best camp of any defensive player. Lenoir was incredibly underrated in 2023, but this season could be his coming-out party. He did not suit up for Sunday, suggesting the 49ers might feel the same. Safety Talanoa Hufanga also did not see the field Sunday but has been cleared for the next steps in his recovery from his ACL injury and will start with cutting and football-related activities soon. New Orleans quarterback Spencer Rattler took the field in the second quarter, and the 49ers defense recovered a fumble during his first series. The defense logged two total sacks.
Preseason Updates: Offensive Lines
Rookie right guard Dominick Puni (Round 3 – Kansas) has been a real surprise this preseason, showing strength at the point of attack. Puni has won the right guard battle over Jon Feliciano, Ben Bartch, and Spencer Burford. Unfortunately, left tackle Trent Williams (11x Pro Bowl) is still holding out and asking for a contract adjustment. These rankings assume that this situation will be resolved before the season. The 49ers' line rank of 7th overall relies mainly on the presence of Williams. Jaylon Moore starts at left tackle in Williams' place, and the other starters (left guard Aaron Banks, center Jake Brendel, and right tackle Colton McKivitz) are only okay.
Updates from Week 2
If you're in a hurry, check out Joe Bryant's Preseason Insights: What You Need To Know This Week.
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
Head coach Kyle Shanahan handled play-calling duties over to assistant Klay Kubiak in the preseason tilt against the Titans. Based on his post-game comments, it was clearly a one-and-done experiment. “It was one of the more boring things for me personally,” Shanahan said. “That was my first game in 16 years not calling plays. I didn’t know what to do with my hands. I got to throw a red flag. I was excited about that.” Brock Purdy didn’t play, along with most of the key starters, which allowed a longer look at backups Brandon Allen and Joshua Dobbs. Allen started and completed 7-of-13 passes for 98 yards, but he wasn’t helped by several bad drops from receivers unlikely to make the 53-man roster. Dobbs had a better statistical night (14-of-20 for 146 yards) against the Titans third stringers. Shanahan was pleased with what he saw, given the circumstances. “We had some penalties, got us in some bad situations, but (Allen) overcame a few with some big throws on third down,” Shanahan said. “And I thought Josh came in and gave us a chance to win. He made some real big throws, just came up a little bit short, but I thought both of them made some plays.”
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
With Christian McCaffrey out for the remainder of the summer dealing with a calf strain, the No. 2 competition has major stakes. Veteran Elijah Mitchell is the presumptive favorite, but he’s injured (again), which opens the door wider for Jordan Mason. Mason shone against the Titans, gaining 34 yards and a touchdown on six carries. The injuries are piling up, so Shanahan canceled joint practices against the Saints this week. The team signed veteran Matt Breida on Monday, but he didn’t make a great first impression, gaining zero yards on six carries against the Titans. Rookie Cody Schrader may have been buried on the depth chart under optimal conditions, but the injuries to McCaffrey, Mitchell, and Isaac Guerendo have changed the dynamic.
Preseason Updates: Wide Receivers
Last week’s NFL headlines were dominated by the Brandon Aiyuk situation, with multiple teams, including the Patriots, Browns, and Steelers, interested. But as the week progressed, nothing materialized and it’s unclear whether those conversations remain active. Late in the week, multiple reporters, including The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, said the 49ers had re-opened contract negotiations with Aiyuk’s agents. The unofficial depth chart still lists Aiyuk as a starter, along with Deebo Samuel Sr. Chris Conley, Jauan Jennings, and rookie Ricky Pearsall are listed as the primary backups, although Pearsall is dealing with an injury. Tay Martin (five receptions for 58 yards) paced the 49ers against Tennessee but remains a roster longshot.
Preseason Updates: Tight Ends
The people’s tight end, George Kittle, has been logging some great practices and looks incredibly in sync with Purdy lately. If Aiyuk is no longer a 49er, Kittle could challenge Travis Kelce for All-Pro honors. The backups haven’t had an encouraging camp, with rookie Cam Latu and veteran Eric Saubert failing to justify significant roles. USA Today’s Kyle Madson projects Kittle, Brayden Willis, and Saubert for the 53-man roster, dropping Logan Thomas from his last projection.
Preseason Updates: Defense
Safety Talanoa Hufanga is still recovering from his torn ACL, giving other players chances to climb the depth chart. Seventh-year veteran George Odum, usually a special teams player, has been getting time in as safety in practice and has intercepted Brock Purdy multiple times. Odum looks to be the solid No. 3 safety heading into the 2024 season. Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir could be the defensive surprise hit of training camp. ESPN’s Nick Wagoner thinks that Lenoir might be the most consistent performer on the defensive side of the ball, having clearly put in the film work over the offseason.
Preseason Updates: Returners
New addition Trent Taylor was signed as a veteran option in the return game, with beat writer Matt Maiocco calling him “the only player on the team who looks comfortable fielding punts.” Ronnie Bell, who fielded punts last year after Ray-Ray McCloud was injured, has focused primarily on kickoffs.
Updates from Week 1
If you're in a hurry, check out Joe Bryant's What You Need To Know From Every Team This Week.
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
As the San Francisco 49ers return to practice, there are high hopes of returning to the Super Bowl this year; they are currently the betting favorite to win the NFC. Sam Darnold, the Niners’ backup from last season, is gone, and Joshua Dobbs takes over as the No.2 behind Brock Purdy. Dobbs was out there for the Niners' first padded practice this week and connected with Jauan Jennings for a touchdown but was later picked off by Ambry Thomas. Dobbs has been mixing in with the 2s and 3s, and beat reporters say he is starting to find a rhythm. Brandon Allen also put in some good reps this week and had eight straight completions at one point on Friday. Purdy had some rough days this week. The team was in pads for the first time at practice this season, and the defense was excelling at picking off the quarterback. Purdy threw three interceptions on Monday and four on Tuesday. He made some impressive connections, though—Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey were all recipients of solidly thrown balls. Purdy seemed to course correct later in the week, logging several practices with few interceptions. The week ended with a heavy emphasis on the deep ball on Saturday.
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
Rookie running back Isaac Guerendo continues to be sidelined by a hamstring injury Coach Shanahan said will cause him to miss a few weeks. This has allowed rookie Cody Schrader to get reps, and he is getting good reviews from teammates and coaches. "I think this is the best running back room I've ever been in from top to bottom," Kyle Juszczyk said. "I think we got some really good players and been particularly impressed with Cody Schrader. He works his absolute tail off. He's very intelligent. He goes out there and just plays a good, consistent clean game, and we've really enjoyed having him." Beat writer Nick Wagoner mentions that Schrader has an advantage adapting to the scheme in San Francisco, as he ran plenty of wide zone at Missouri. He’s also showing well as a receiver. Christian McCaffrey’s No.2 looks to be veteran Elijah Mitchell, but Jordan Mason has been getting first-team work in McCaffrey’s stead, too.
Preseason Updates: Wide Receivers
Rookie Ricky Pearsall was activated off the NFI list on Monday and increased his participation as the week progressed, running some beautiful routes and creating separation from the 49ers' talented defensive backs. After returning to training camp last week, Brandon Aiyuk remains a “hold-in”; he’s not participating in practice until a contract is reached. He is set to earn $14.1 million under the team’s fifth-year option. However, the market for elite receivers has skyrocketed this offseason, and Aiyuk understandably wants a new deal commensurate with his value. Deebo Samuel dealt with the same issue two years ago. "Overall, it's a tough situation," Samuel said. "It's just like sometimes it gets stressful because, at the end of the day, you want to be out here with your guys and want to be out here practicing. But overall, you want what you deserve. So, at the end of the day, something has to give, something has to work out. But I feel like something's going to happen, hopefully.”
On Wednesday, Aiyuk walked onto the field at practice, headed directly over to General Manager John Lynch and Coach Shanahan, and shook hands. It is uncertain what this means, if anything, and later in the week, Shanahan simply said that is how the guys greet each other. However, on Monday, 49ers insider Matt Maiocco tweeted that, for the first time, he believes trading Aiyuk away is a “legitimate option” for the 49ers.
Samuel looks great, as usual, and is making plays seemingly every day of practice. Jennings missed Friday’s practice with an ankle issue but returned on Saturday. Finally, Malik Turner limped off during team drills on Saturday after trying to come down with a deep ball. Wagoner believes Aiyuk, Samuel, Jennings, and Pearsall are roster locks, with Jacob Cowing likely to make the team as the No. 5. The battle for the sixth spot boils down to Ronnie Bell, Chris Conley, and Trent Taylor.
Preseason Updates: Tight Ends
Veteran Logan Thomas has missed the past two practices with a hamstring issue, allowing some tight ends further down the depth chart to get on the field. Cameron Latu was on the field this week but had trouble stringing together some positive plays with Josh Dobbs under center.
Preseason Updates: Defense
We spoke of Purdy’s interceptions earlier, which allowed the defense to shine. Ji’Ayir Brown, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Deommodore Lenoir (2), and George Odum (2) are the ones who came down with those errant throws. Fred Warner came close to two interceptions earlier in the week. He’s having a great start to camp, including chasing down McCaffrey multiple times and stopping the backup running backs behind the line of scrimmage. Lenoir is also having a terrific camp and is being used in multiple ways, including as a blitzer.
