49ers 53-man roster projection: Difficult decisions at WR, LB and O-line

First, a disclaimer: The Tennessee Titans kind of stink on the offensive line and in the secondary, so the San Francisco 49ers’ results against them last week in the joint practice and preseason game might be a little misleading. Let’s hold off another week or two before fitting rookie receiver De’Zhaun Stribling for a gold jacket.

That said, the 49ers’ rookies and backups have been impressive during training camp, and the team will have to cut some guys who have played well (and might very well get picked up by another team). It’s not just a tired general manager or coach cliché, like it often is around the league.

Wide receiver, linebacker and offensive line should be especially tough for GM John Lynch, coach Kyle Shanahan and his staff when it comes to making the final cuts to 53 players on Aug. 30. I am here to help.

Here is our initial 53-man projection following one preseason game. (Rookies in italics)

Offense (26)

Quarterback (3): Brock Purdy, Mac Jones, Kurtis Rourke

Cut: Adrian Martinez

The 49ers are not ready to say that Rourke, a seventh-round pick last year, is poised to be the backup in 2o27, in the likely scenario where Mac Jones leaves in free agency to pursue a starting opportunity elsewhere. But they are not ready to say that he isn’t, either, which is why they have to keep him on the 53. Ideally, Rourke would protect himself a little better in the final two preseason games, if he’s able to play, after injuring his ribs in the opener.

Running back (4): Christian McCaffrey, Kaelon Black, Jordan James, Kyle Juszczyk (fullback)

Cut: Patrick Taylor Jr., Sincere McCormick, Khalil Herbert, Zamir White

PUP: Isaac Guerendo

Black — whom the Niners have big plans for when they finally give McCaffrey a breather — and James will make the roster, assuming their injuries aren’t enough to land either on injured reserve. There is some flexibility after that, as the other four running backs would likely clear waivers if the 49ers want them back after final cuts.

There is no real reason to rush Guerendo back from the torn pec he suffered in the offseason. If he stays on the PUP list through cuts, he would miss at least four games and buy the 49ers time to decide on his roster spot.

Wide receiver (6): Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, De’Zhaun Stribling, Jordan Watkins, Demarcus Robinson, Christian Kirk

Cut: Jacob Cowing, KhaDarel Hodge, Will Pauling, Wesley Grimes, Malik Turner, Trenton Irwin

I was trying to find a spot for Hodge, a favorite of former Falcons head coach and current Niners defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. He is very good on special teams and a physical receiver. But I wound up cutting him and Cowing, the speedster whom it seems the 49ers have been waiting on forever. The 49ers roll with two vets — Robinson has been too good in camp, and Purdy loves him, while Kirk has been out with a calf injury, and it seems like the staff told him to take his time coming back.

Tight end (3): George Kittle, Jake Tonges, Luke Farrell

Cut: Brayden Willis, Josiah Deguara, Hayden Rucci

Kittle looks poised to come back from his Achilles injury early in the season, maybe in Week 1, while Tonges and Farrell have had nice camps. So has Willis, but his blocking again betrayed him in Thursday night’s game, and the fourth time is not the charm for making the team

Offensive line (10): LT Trent Williams, LG Robert Jones, C Jake Brendel, RG Dominick Puni, RT Colton McKivitz, OT Austen Pleasants, G Carver Willis, G Connor Colby, OT Vederian Lowe, OT Enrique Cruz Jr.

Cut: Brett Toth, Brandon Parker, Kion Smith, Drake Nugent, Isaac Alarcon, Doug Kramer Jr.

The Colby experiment seems to have ended quickly — the second-year player makes too many mistakes — and the Niners are now giving the rookie Willis a shot at the starting left guard spot. If Willis doesn’t claim it, the 49ers will roll with Jones, who is better at run blocking than pass protection, or see who is on the waiver wire.

The rest of the starting five is solid, with Lowe a solid swing tackle off the bench. Cruz is a long way off but might be too good of an athlete to cut, so we gave Toth his walking papers, even though he is the best backup option at center.

Defense (24)

Defensive line (9): DE Mykel Williams, DT Osa Odighizuwa, DT Alfred Collins, DE Nick Bosa, DE Keion White, DE Romello Height, DT CJ West, DE Sam Okuayinonu, DT Gracen Halton

Cut: DT Sebastian Valdez, DT Bryson Eason, DT James Thompson Jr., DE Ogbo Okoronkwo, DE Quinton Bell, DE Titus Leo, DE Xavier Thomas

Even if Bosa, Williams and White return from injuries this week, there are concerns about the pass rush. Height is extremely quick with a bevy of moves, but he is still a little slight, and the rookie wound up on the turf often on Thursday night.

The interior line is stacked, and even with Collins slowly rounding into shape, there is no need to keep five DTs, even though Eason, Thompson and Valdez have all looked that part. Getting at least one back on the practice squad will suffice.

Linebacker (6): Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, Nick Martin, Tatum Bethune, Luke Gifford, Jaden Dugger

Cut: Garret Wallow, Larry Worth III, Jalen Graham

Wallow and Worth are both tough cuts, especially Worth, who has stood out not only for his height but also for his ability to cover tight ends. Dugger’s quick grasp of things ultimately hurts Worth, though we wonder whether he could steal a roster spot from Bethune or Martin. Morris has no attachment to either. Could one be traded?

Cornerback (5): Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green, Upton Stout, Jack Jones, Ephesians Prysock

Cut: Darrell Luter Jr., Eli Apple, Jakob Robinson

IR: Nate Hobbs

Jones has been one of the top players at camp, and his hand injury Thursday night was not serious. Prysock was impressive in his place, and the 49ers love their depth here.

“(He) made a nice play in the red zone, being able to knock down a pass,” Morris said of Prysock’s debut. “Watching how sticky he was on some of the other coverage that he could have been targeted on, but he was able to deny it or the play goes away, and the quarterback progressed — I was really pleased with how he played.”

Hobbs already faced an uphill battle before injuring his groin on Tuesday.

Safety (4): Ji’Ayir Brown, Marques Sigle, Malik Mustapha, Siran Neal

Cut: Ashtyn Davis, Jalen Stroman, Patrick McMorris

Brown, like several of the cornerbacks, seems to have really taken to Morris’ scheme and is playing aggressively, while a beefed-up Sigle has taken advantage of an injury to Mustapha. The fourth spot comes down to whom special teams coach Brant Boyer likes better between Neal and Davis.

Special teams (3)

PK Eddy Piñeiro, P Corliss Waitman, LS Jon Weeks

Piñeiro earned a big payday last season, while Weeks made the Pro Bowl. The only question mark is Waitman, the former Steeler, but he appears solid, and he beat out rookie Jack Bouwmeester in a rather tame camp battle.