SANTA CLARA — Cuts are days away. The season opener is in two weeks. The Niners don’t appear significantly prepared for both, however at the least the preseason is over.
Listed below are the studs and duds from Saturday’s exhibition finale, a 30-23 Niners win, which was, extra importantly, the final likelihood for gamers to point out they should play for this staff in September
💪 STUDS
Jordan Elliott, DT» It’s hardly superb that Elliott was enjoying on Saturday, however in the event you’re a veteran being requested to play severe snaps in a 3rd preseason recreation, you may as effectively make flash performs.
Elliott was a game-wrecker within the center in opposition to the Chargers’ second and third-string offensive strains. If he was on the roster bubble, he ought to have performed his means off it Saturday.
Thomas Morstead, P» His 51-yard punt, his fourth amid eight whole punts within the first quarter, was such a magnificence that returner Luke Grimm (nominative determinism along with his possibilities to make the roster) couldn’t deal with it. The Niners definitely upgraded at punter this offseason.
Tanner Mordecai, QB
» At the least one No. 4 had a very good recreation.
The ball began shifting when he got here in for the injured Connor Bradley. Neither of the quarterbacks we noticed Saturday will make the regular-season roster, however Mordecai could be a very good practice-squad choice for the Niners.
Nick Martin, LB
» He performed snaps from scrimmage within the second half (it appears as if first-string special-teams gamers weren’t requested to go double obligation within the first half) and instantly compelled a fumble. He additionally had an important run cease within the backfield. Briefly, he popped. There are nonetheless numerous questions bout the rookie linebacker, however there’s no denying that he brings some increase with the bust and has improved all through coaching camp. It’s an encouraging trajectory.
Jeff Wilson Jr., RB
» The commerce for Brian Robinson had little to do with Wilson, however the Niners must hold the veteran, proper? He seemed actually good on Saturday.
📉 DUDS
Jake Moody, Ok
» What are we doing right here? He missed one other kick Saturday, pulling an additional level left of the uprights. Within the third quarter, he put a kickoff thus far out of bounds that it practically took out a cheerleader.
Moody didn’t “win” the kicking competitors, and he isn’t worthy of a roster spot. If he hadn’t been picked No. 99 in 2023, he’d already be out the door.
The Niners are issuing a textbook case of the sunk-cost fallacy and are doubling down on it with each recreation Moody performs.
Saturday should be his final recreation in a 49ers uniform.
Connor Bradley, QB
» That was a troublesome watch Saturday. It was even more durable for him to play via, as he was battered and overwhelmed behind a porous offensive line.
Matt Hennessy, C
» The 49ers’ depth middle may need put out the worst performances of any participant with an opportunity to make the roster in camp. (At the least Moodt made a number of.) Saturday was one other woeful efficiency the place he failed to dam, snap the ball cleanly, or regulate protections (which, to be truthful, I doubt the Niners enable him to do). There’s merely no purpose for him to make the 53-man roster. If he does, it’s an enormous crimson flag heading into the season.
Isaac Guerendo, RB
» The Niners issued a vote of no-confidence within the second-year Louisville product on Friday, when the staff traded for operating again Brian Robinson.
Guerendo made the Niners look oh-so-smart along with his efficiency Saturday. Guerendo may be a weapon in exterior zone runs, however in an offense that’s going to run extra gap-scheme runs and inside zone, it’s clear that No. 31 lacks the imaginative and prescient and tight-window operating capability obligatory to point out off his prodigious operating expertise.
To his credit score, Guerendo did have a pleasant particular groups play to cap the primary quarter, main the protection unit down the sector, however then he injured his shoulder on the play. He returned and continued to do little.
Skyy Moore, WR
» An unpleasant drop, questionable punt returns. He had one good kick return, however Moore hardly impressed in his 49ers debut. Junior Bergen couldn’t do this?
Junior Bergen, WR
» Oh, I suppose he couldn’t. Bergen muffed a fourth-quarter punt in essentially the most emphatic of how. At the least he’ll be simple to get onto the observe squad, now. That’s if the Niners even need to trouble protecting him round.
Evan Anderson, DT
» He’s a serviceable participant, however you may’t choose up two flags in a preseason recreation whenever you’re on the roster bubble. Do the Niners have sufficient our bodies to knock him off the 53?
Drake Nugent, C
» The Niners tried him at middle once more after a surprisingly spectacular stint at guard, and he nearly allowed Bradley to be killed on a blitz from linebacker Marlowe Wax. For a staff that’s in search of solutions on the inside of the offensive line, he missed his alternative this preseason to show that he’s one.
WR coach Leonard Hankerson and the 49ers’ offensive teaching employees
» What number of unlawful formation penalties did the Niners have Saturday? I misplaced depend after 4. I perceive the sector was affected by soon-to-be minimize gamers and new guys, however San Francisco’s sloppy play did little to discourage the concept that this staff isn’t prepared for Week 1.
Initially Revealed: August 23, 2025 at 8:08 PM PDT
