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5 Notable 49ers Who Won't Be on the Roster by Week 1
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- 5 Notable 49ers Who Won't Be on the Roster by Week 1
In less than a month, the San Francisco 49ers and every other NFL team have to cut about 40 players from their roster. Teams have to go from 90 players to 53 ahead of Week 1, so there's going to be some tough decisions that get made .
The 49ers have one of the more talented rosters in the league. This is a team that's full of veterans and Pro Bowl-level players, so it will be tough for some notable names to secure a spot.
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Today, we're going to talk about five notable names who will not make the 49ers' final roster.
RB Isaac Guerendo
Isaac Guerendo once looked like a promising piece of this offense. However, the running back was a complete ghost in 2025, and he's dealing with injuries this summer. As a result, it's hard to imagine a role for Guerendo in 2026.
The 49ers have Christian McCaffrey , Kaelon Black, and Jordan James as roster locks. Considering the 49ers keep a fullback, they may decide to roll with three traditional running backs. Even if they do keep four, Khalil Herbert or Patrick Taylor Jr. could beat out Guerendo.
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WR Demarcus Robinson
The wide receiver room in San Francisco has some spots up for grabs. With Ricky Pearsall out for the season and Christian Kirk dealing with an injury, there's a perfect opportunity for some players to step up.
Demarcus Robinson is one of those players fighting for a depth spot. Robinson has been a reliable receiver in the past, but he may be a victim of the numbers game. Jacob Cowing should make the team because of his ability on special teams, and veteran KhaDarel Hodge could make it for the same reason.
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Robinson doesn't contribute enough on special teams, and he's not as promising as some of the young receivers, which could mean he's on the outside looking in.
OL Austen Pleasants
Austen Pleasants is another veteran who could be a victim of the numbers game. Pleasants has had a nice summer, but the 49ers gave Vederian Lowe a two-year deal and drafted Enrique Cruz Jr. this offseason.
It's hard to imagine the team keeping three backup tackles . Pleasants is the most likely of that trio to be moved on from, but that would be a tough cut. Ultimately, the 49ers will likely roll with Lowe and Cruz as the backup tackles.
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LB Luke Gifford
Luke Gifford just made the Pro Bowl last year as a special teamer, but it's hard to find a spot for him on this roster. Fred Warner , Dre Greenlaw , Nick Martin , Tatum Bethune , and Jaden Dugger all seem like locks to make it.
That's already five linebackers ahead of Gifford. Will the team really keep six players here? It's hard to justify that, which means Gifford is probably the odd man out. There are several other special teamers who can make the team at other positions.
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DB Siran Neal
This may be another bold prediction. Siran Neal is a very good special teamer, but again, it seems like there are just too many players ahead of him on the depth chart.
It could help that Neal has the versatility to play nickel or safety, but he's only started one game in eight years. The 49ers would probably rather keep a guy like Ashtyn Davis , who can fill in better at safety, or Darrell Luter Jr. , who's a younger special teams ace.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Aug 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
