SANTA CLARA – The 49ers completed the preseason on Thursday night, and now it is time for general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan to get to work to finalize the regular-season roster.
The 49ers had 88 players under contract for the team’s 23-21 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in the preseason finale in front of a tiny crowd at Levi’s Stadium.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Over the course of the next two days, the 49ers must get down to the regular-season limit of 53 players. A couple of the moves are already known, as linebacker Reuben Foster (two games) and receiver Victor Bolden (four games) will be placed on the league’s reserve/suspended list.
Here are three things you need to know coming out of the 49ers’ final preseason game and with the regular-season opener looming on Sunday, Sept. 9, against the Minnesota Vikings:
Final Roster Decisions
Lynch said before the game there were still approximately four players in the picture for two roster spots. Those battles will warrant some conversation among the team’s personnel department and coaching staff.
San Francisco 49ers
Find the latest San Francisco 49ers news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Bay Area and California.
One competition that might be going down the end is at tight end, where it looks as if Cole Wick’s blocking and toughness could put him in position to win the spot over Cole Hikutini, whose best attribute is his receiving.
Hikutini failed to come down with a touchdown pass against the Indianapolis Colts last week. He also had a pass deflect off his hands on Thursday. Hikutini was bailed out by an unnecessary roughness penalty.
Although rookie safety Marcell Harris did not play in the exhibition season, all indications are he will remain on the team through the initial cuts. Then, Harris could go on injured reserve with a hamstring injury he sustained while practicing two weeks ago in Houston. Players who start the season on injured reserve are eligible to return after six weeks. The 49ers could go with Tyvis Powell as the backup strong safety or the team could scour the waiver wire for Jaquiski Tartt’s backup.
The 49ers named three captains for Thursday’s game, and each of those players might receive bad news: receiver Aldrick Robinson, and linebackers Korey Toomer and Pita Taumoepenu.
Swing Tackle Questions
Veteran offensive tackle Garry Gilliam did not play in the final three preseason games after sustaining a concussion in the preseason opener Aug. 9 against the Dallas Cowboys. Gilliam is a fifth-year NFL veteran, and his spot on the team appears secure.
None of the 49ers’ younger players at offensive tackle did much to earn the trust of the coaching staff. Darrell Williams, who spent most of last season on the practice squad, started Friday night at left tackle and surrendered sacks on the 49ers’ first two possessions of the game.
C.J. Beathard started at quarterback and his first series ended with a big hit from Chargers outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, who beat Williams. Beathard, whom coach Kyle Shanahan last week declared will be the backup to Jimmy Garoppolo, was replaced by Nick Mullens for the next series.
Erik Magnuson could be a valuable piece of the 49ers’ offensive line this season based on his ability to be a backup at all five offensive line positions. Magnuson’s hamstring injury does not appear to be as serious as first believed.
Blair Makes Final Push
Defensive end Ronald Blair looked like a man who was playing for his spot on the 49ers’ 53-man roster. He clearly knew what was at stake. Blair got off to a strong start in Thursday’s game with a sack of San Diego quarterback Geno Smith on the first series.
Three plays later, Blair was a little too eager to make his mark and was called for a roughing-the-passer penalty. Blair did not distinguish himself in training camp in order to safely lock up a roster spot. But he came through with five tackles, a sack and a tackle for a loss in Thursday’s game.
Blair should be on a 53-man roster this season. And if it’s not with the 49ers, it is difficult to believe that some other team will not give him that opportunity.