SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers open the 2024 regular season against the New York Jets on Sept. 9 at Levi's Stadium (8:20 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC/ESPN+).
Coming off an overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII, the Niners once again boast one of the league's most talented rosters. After a long offseason, San Francisco brings back the bulk of the defending NFC champion squad. Alas, this could very well be the final run for the core group of players that spurred the 49ers to at least the NFC Championship Game in four of the past five seasons. With that in mind, the Niners are counting on some young players to take a step forward this year while learning from the many veterans expected to lead the way.
The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Here is a projection:
QUARTERBACK (3): Brock Purdy, Brandon Allen, Joshua Dobbs
Purdy is locked in as the starter and, after a spirited competition in the preseason, it's hard to tell who will win the backup job between Allen and Dobbs. But both have done enough to earn a roster spot and are among the team's 53 best players.
RUNNING BACK (5): Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell, Jordan Mason, Isaac Guerendo, Kyle Juszczyk
It's hard to find a place for Guerendo after he suffered a hamstring injury early in camp and didn't really get a chance to win a spot. But he returned recently and could be a fit as the kick returner, so he gets a shot. The Niners can stash rookie Cody Schrader and veteran Matt Breida on the practice squad.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): Deebo Samuel Sr., Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing, Chris Conley
This is the spot where there could be a major upheaval depending on what happens with Aiyuk's hold-in situation and Pearsall's shoulder injury. Conley, Trent Taylor and Ronnie Bell seem to be battling for a sixth and final spot but Conley's experience and special teams acumen win out. Taylor and Bell would be solid practice squad options.
TIGHT END (3): George Kittle, Eric Saubert, Brayden Willis
Once again, the Niners have big questions behind Kittle. Saubert is an experienced veteran who can fulfill the blocking role left behind by Charlie Woerner's departure as Willis continues to work toward becoming a versatile depth option. Jake Tonges had a solid camp but it's hard to make the case there are four roster-worthy tight ends in this group, which should send one to the practice squad.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Trent Williams, Aaron Banks, Jake Brendel, Colton McKivitz, Jaylon Moore, Dominick Puni, Spencer Burford, Jarrett Kingston, Nick Zakelj
Injuries to Jon Feliciano, Burford and Banks might force the Niners to go heavy here to open the season. Feliciano is ticketed for injured reserve after knee surgery, and it remains to be seen if and when he will return. Zakelj wins out as the versatile interior depth option over Ben Bartch, who has also been dealing with injuries. Rookie Kingston is also intriguing and though it's hard to find a spot for him, the guess is he sticks over Chris Hubbard, who can make it through to practice squad.
DEFENSIVE LINE (8): Nick Bosa, Leonard Floyd, Maliek Collins, Javon Hargrave, Jordan Elliott, Yetur Gross-Matos, Kevin Givens, Robert Beal Jr.
The Niners simply don't have the depth here that they usually do, particularly on the edge. That depth could be tested immediately with injuries to Floyd and Gross-Matos in the preseason finale. That could force them to keep an extra body here such as Alex Barrett but the more likely option might be scanning the waiver wire or trade options for help.
LINEBACKER (6): Fred Warner, De'Vondre Campbell, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Jalen Graham, Dee Winters, Curtis Robinson
With Dre Greenlaw unlikely to be available to return from an Achilles injury until later in the season, the Niners will thread the needle between youth and experience here. Flannigan-Fowles and Campbell offer a veteran presence next to Warner while Graham and Winters provide the kind of speed that should allow them to help on special teams. Rookie Tatum Bethune and Robinson have a claim for a sixth and final spot but Robinson has earned a shot and Bethune can probably stick around on the practice squad.
CORNERBACK (7): Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green, Isaac Yiadom, Darrell Luter Jr., Samuel Womack III, Rock Ya-Sin
This is the most difficult position to peg, with the final couple of spots likely to come down to Luter, Womack, Ya-Sin and Chase Lucas. Special teams will be a factor, with Womack and Luter both figuring prominently into coverage units. Ya-Sin brings needed experience. San Francisco is unlikely to keep seven for long but might initially because of some other injury machinations.
SAFETY (3): Ji'Ayir Brown, George Odum, Malik Mustapha
Much of this will depend on if Talanoa Hufanga can be ready for Week 1. There's optimism that will happen, but for the sake of the initial 53, we'll project the Niners activating Hufanga from the PUP list later on and going light here for now. Jaylen Mahoney is an intriguing player who could land on the practice squad.
SPECIALISTS (3): K Jake Moody, P Mitch Wishnowsky, LS Taybor Pepper
The only question here is whether Wishnowsky's knee issue continues to linger. If it does, perhaps he starts the season on an injury list with Pressley Harvin III handling punt duties.