SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers open the 2023 NFL regular season at the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 10 at Acrisure Stadium.
Coming off a 13-4 season in which they fell one win short of a Super Bowl appearance, the 49ers find themselves once again smack in the middle of their window to win that elusive sixth Lombardi Trophy. The Niners lost a number of key starters and contributors in free agency but return their superstar nucleus plus a significant addition in the form of defensive tackle Javon Hargrave.
Throughout training camp, much of the focus has been on the quarterbacks and that will continue as the Niners trim to the initial 53. Brock Purdy has solidified himself atop the depth chart and Sam Darnold beat out Trey Lance for the No. 2 job. That resulted in Lance being dealt to the Dallas Cowboys on Friday for a fourth-round pick and leaves Brandon Allen as the No. 3. One thing is certain, as recent history has proved repeatedly: San Francisco needs multiple capable quarterbacks to get through the season.
Here's a 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (3): Brock Purdy, Sam Darnold, Brandon Allen
Following an offseason of questions, the answers are already available. Purdy passed every test from a health perspective and is locked in as the starter. Darnold's experience helped him nail down the No. 2 job and with Lance off to Dallas, Allen steps into the No. 3 job.
RUNNING BACK (5): Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell, Jordan Mason, Tyrion Davis-Price, Kyle Juszczyk (FB)
This position usually has more drama, but one could argue it looked like the best and deepest group on the roster throughout camp and the preseason. Mitchell has been slowed by injury again, but otherwise there's not a back on this list the Niners would hesitate to use in games.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Ray-Ray McCloud III, Danny Gray, Ronnie Bell
McCloud suffered a broken wrist in mid-August and is expected to miss up to eight weeks while Gray is dealing with a sprained shoulder that could keep him out of early games. Those injuries, plus his strong preseason, should cement a spot for Bell. Veterans Chris Conley and Willie Snead IV have had good moments and could offer additional depth via the practice squad.
TIGHT END (4): George Kittle, Charlie Woerner, Brayden Willis, Cameron Latu
After Kittle, this group is maybe the most difficult to project. Latu has struggled mightily with drops but is a third-round pick and has rebounded a bit of late. It's hard to imagine the Niners giving up on him so soon. Woerner can stick as a blocker, and Willis has offered some promise. San Francisco will almost certainly keep one or both of Ross Dwelley and Troy Fumagalli on the practice squad and keep them ready to be called up if anything happens to Kittle.
OFFENSIVE LINE (8): Trent Williams, Aaron Banks, Jake Brendel, Spencer Burford, Colton McKivitz, Jon Feliciano, Jaylon Moore, Matt Pryor
The Niners would probably prefer to keep nine, but it's hard to find that many linemen who are clearly among the team's 53 best players. The first six are locks, but Moore, Pryor and Nick Zakelj are likely battling for two spots. Zakelj, rookie tackle Ilm Manning and Leroy Watson IV make sense as practice-squad additions.
DEFENSIVE LINE (9): Nick Bosa, Javon Hargrave, Arik Armstead, Drake Jackson, Clelin Ferrell, Kevin Givens, Javon Kinlaw, Austin Bryant, Kerry Hyder Jr.
Traditionally the 49ers keep 10 defensive linemen, but a spate of injuries has made this harder to figure. Ferrell, Givens, Kinlaw and Bryant offer clear backup roles behind the starters, with Hyder offering positional versatility to fill in multiple spots. Rookie Robert Beal Jr. and nose tackle T.Y. McGill could also figure into the mix.
LINEBACKER (5): Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, Oren Burks, Jalen Graham, Dee Winters
Winters and Graham have impressed with their speed and instincts and project to bright futures. Burks has battled an injury and it could come down to him or Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles for one spot, but Burks is also an ace special teamer and the projected starter at strong side linebacker. Marcelino McCrary-Ball is another name to know but might need more seasoning on the practice squad.
CORNERBACK (6): Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Samuel Womack III, Ambry Thomas, Isaiah Oliver, D'Shawn Jamison
Thomas and Womack had strong camps, which should make them safe alongside Ward and Lenoir. Oliver signed in March to be the nickel corner but had some struggles and was pushed for snaps as the preseason went on. Undrafted rookie Jamison has been one of the surprises of camp and gets to stay in part because the Niners seem set to go lighter than normal on the defensive line.
SAFETY (4): Talanoa Hufanga, Tashaun Gipson Sr., Ji'Ayir Brown, George Odum
These four are set, leaving the only debate on whether the Niners keep one more. Tayler Hawkins has impressed in the preseason, and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks has called him one of his "favorites." Someone would have to be removed from a different position for him to make it, but Hawkins is a sleeper to watch.
SPECIALISTS (3): K Jake Moody, P Mitch Wishnowsky, LS Taybor Pepper
Kicker Zane Gonzalez performed well in the preseason, but Moody was the hand-picked choice to succeed Robbie Gould. Moody's preseason struggles likely won't affect his status here but a quad injury adds a layer of uncertainty to how this will play out. Wishnowsky and Pepper are unchallenged incumbents.