49ers finalize 53-man roster with focus on O-line, a few surprises

Really, for the San Francisco 49ers, the NFL’s Sunday afternoon deadline to trim their roster down to 53 players was more like a starting bell.“I always tell everyone, the final 53,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said last week, “all that means is the final 53 that day.” California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.Please provide a valid email.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story But we now know at least the initial shape of the roster that the 49ers will take with them to Australia for next Thursday’s season opener against the Los Angeles Rams, and there weren’t too many surprises for anyone paying close attention to training camp.The most moving and shaking on cutdown day came at the 49ers’ least settled position group as they waived Robert Jones — initially a favorite for the left guard job — and traded for another veteran interior lineman, Jarrett Patterson, who should help with issues at guard and center.Here’s a breakdown of the 49ers’ 53-man roster and the decisions that went into it:Brock Purdy, Mac Jones, Kurtis RourkeWaived: Adrian MartinezThe implications here aren’t so much about 2026, but 2027.Rourke, a seventh-round pick in 2025, apparently showed San Francisco enough in one (impressive) half of preseason football to give them confidence that he can be Purdy’s backup next season, when Jones is likely to be eyeing one of the other 31 starting jobs.

He broke three ribs in his lone preseason appearance but is expected to return to practice this week.Christian McCaffrey, Kaelon Black, Jordan James, Kyle JuszczykPUP: Isaac GuerendoWaived: Sincere McCormickReleased: Khalil HerbertThe same reason the 49ers’ running backs room was filled with question marks two weeks ago is why it was relatively straightforward come cutdown day: health.McCaffrey, Black and James all returned to practice and lo...