Many around are debating whether or not the San Francisco 49ers roster is one that is capable of contending for a Super Bowl. The 49ers have dealt with a flurry of injuries this preseason, before any meaningful football has actually rolled around.

Throughout the past couple of days GM John Lynch and HC Kyle Shanahan have had the task of whittling down the 90-man roster to the initial and now current 53-man roster.

There are still plenty of moves the 49ers will likely make, but they’ve done everything in the power up until now to keep this roster in their Super Bowl window.

Offense (26)

Quarterbacks (3)

Starter: Brock Purdy
Backups: Mac Jones, Kurtis Rourke
OUT: Adrian Martinez

Adrian Martinez gets the boot after a less than ideal preseason, but Kurtis Rourke’s strong play keeps him activated.

Running Backs (3)

Starter: Christian McCaffrey
Backups: Jordan James, Kaelon Black
OUT/PUP/PS: RB Khalil Herbert, RB Sincere McCormick (PS), Isaac Guerendo (PUP)

No surprise for the top three guys. McCormick keeps himself on the practice squad while Guerendo is placed on the PUP which requires him to miss the first four games. Solid room with depth around McCaffrey.

Fullback (1)

In: Kyle Juszczyk
OUT: none

No surprise here.

Wide Receivers (6)

Starters: Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel Sr., De’Zhaun Stribling
Backups: Demarcus Robinson, Jacob Cowing, Jordan Watkins
OUT/IR/PS: Christian Kirk (IR with designation to return), Will Pauling (PS), Khadarel Hodge (PS), Wesley Grimes (PS), Malik Turner, Trenton Irwin, Ricky Pearsall (season-ending IR), Brandon Aiyuk (left team)

The top three is set in stone here. Christian Kirk will likely return after his four games on IR. Cowing certainly proved himself useful on special teams in the preseason with a return touchdown against the Chargers. If the 49ers keep five wideouts on the roster for Week 1, expect the cut to come between Robinson and Watkins.

Tight Ends (4)

Starter: George Kittle
Backups: Jake Tonges, Luke Farrell, Bradyen Willis
OUT/PS: Khalil Dinkins (PS), Hayden Rucci

Things are trending upwards for Kittle, but still nothing certain on his Week 1 status. When he inevitably ends up fully healthy we could see this room potentially shrink to three.

Offensive Line (9)

Starters (from left to right): Trent Williams, Carver Willis, Jake Brendel, Dominick Puni, Colton McKivitz
Backups: Enrique Cruz Jr., Connor Colby, Jarrett Patterson (trade with Houston, sent 2027 7th-round pick), Vederian Lowe
OUT/PS/IR: Austen Pleasants (IR with designation to return), Isaac Alarcon (PS), Drake Nugent (PS), Foster Sarell (PS), Nick Zakeji (season-ending IR), Brett Toth (season-ending IR), Robert Jones, Brandon Parker, Doug Kramer Jr.

Robert Jones’ injury and struggles find him off the roster with no finality on the LG spot, yet. Expect rookie Carver Willis to start sooner rather than later. The 49ers also traded for interior OL Jarrett Patterson to bolster the room with versatility at guard and center.

Defense (25)

Defensive Line (9)

Starters: Keion White, Osa Odighizuwa, Alfred Collins, Nick Bosa
Backups: Romello Height, C.J. West, Gracen Halton, James Thompson Jr., Sam Okuayinonu
OUT/PUP/IR/PS: Mykel Williams (PUP), Mikail Kamara (season-ending IR), KJ Henry (waived due to injury), Victor Dimukeje (IR), Andrew Farmer II (IR), Ogbo Okoronkwo (PS), Sebastian Valdez (PS), Bryson Eason, Quinton Bell, Jah Joyner, Evan Anderson, Viliami Fehoko Jr.

Mykel Williams must miss four games to start the year but will be brought back on the 53 after. Nick Bosa’s Week 1 status is still up in the air as he did practice this week. We could see a lot more movement in this position group.

Linebackers (6)

Starters: Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, Jaden Dugger
Backups: Garret Wallow, Tatum Bethune, Luke Gifford
OUT/IR/PS: Nick Martin (IR with designation to return), Jalen Graham (PS), Deion Jones, Larry Worth III

Bethune finds himself on the roster but could end up coming off when Nick Martin returns. This group stays pretty banged up as well which could lead to a lot of movement throughout 2026.

Defensive Backs (10)

Starters: Renardo Green, Malik Mustapha, Ji’Ayir Brown, Deommodore Lenoir, Upton Stout
Backups: Jack Jones, Ephesians Prysock, Marques Sigle, Siran Neal, Ashtyn Davis (claimed via waivers)
OUT/IR/PS: Nate Hobbs (IR with designation to return), Darrick Forrest (season-ending IR), Jakob Robinson (PS), Jalen Stroman (PS), Brandon Codrington (PS), Darrel Luter Jr., Eli Apple, Patrick McMorris

Ashtyn Davis gets activated in the 49ers recent roster moves to bring safety depth. The addition of Codrington to the practice squad could be interesting. He has return skills and if the 49ers choose to shrink their WR room to five, he could be activated in place.

Specialists (2)

In: Punter Corliss Waitman (claimed via waivers), Kicker Eddy Piñiero
OUT: none

Eddy Piñiero’s hot preseason keeps him in the 49ers’ good graces and on this roster. LS Jon Weeks is currently on the practice squad (see below) and should be activated for Week 1.

Practice Squad (does not count against active roster)

OL Isaac Alarcon, TE Khalil Dinkins, LB Jalen Graham, WR Wesley Grimes, WR Kadarel Hodge, RB Sincere McCormick, OL Drake Nugent, DL Ogbo Okoronkwo, WR Will Pauling, CB Jakob Robinson, S Jalen Stroman, DL Sebastian Valdez, LS Jon Weeks, OL Foster Sarell, CB/Ret Brandon Codrington

Every team goes through plenty of roster movement even after cutdown day and prior to their Week 1 kick. The 49ers absurd amount of preseason injuries makes it almost certain that this roster will shake up some more prior to their Week 1 kick against the Rams in Melbourne, Australia.