© Stan Szeto | 2019 Jul 27
While each NFL team’s third preseason game is looked at as the most important one of the preseason, like a dress-rehearsal for a real game, the fourth preseason game is sometimes even more important.
For the San Francisco 49ers, their final rehearsal tonight against the Los Angeles Chargers will determine the fate of several roster spots for many key positions as Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch prepare to make many tough decisions before the season gets underway.
Matt Maiocco, NBC Sports’ longtime 49ers beat writer, stopped by the Murph & Mac show on Thursday to discuss what Shanahan and Lynch will be looking for in tonight’s final preseason tune-up.
“I think injuries,” Maiocco said. “I think it’s always kind of hyperbole to say ‘these guys are playing for their jobs’ you know ‘their job’s on the line tonight.’ I really don’t think that’s the case, but what I do think is the case is that the team has to determine at what positions do they go heavy and at what positions do they go light.
“So let’s just start it at quarterback; Kyle Shanahan said after the game Saturday that his plan was to keep three quarterbacks: Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard behind Jimmy Garoppolo. Now, he said that right after news in Indianapolis that Andrew Luck was retiring, so did he say that to send a signal to the Colts and every other team around the league that if you want one of our quarterbacks who we believe is an NFL quarterback, don’t hold your breath waiting for one of them to hit the waiver wire, you’re gonna have to reach out to us and make a deal.”
The battle for the backup quarterback spot will be one of the most important of the preseason given Garoppolo’s injury history, and an impressive showing tonight could even turn Nick Mullens or C.J. Beathard into a highly sought-after asset.
“And I did pick up yesterday, I believe when you guys were talking to John Lynch, he did say that he’s talked to Chris Ballard in the last couple of days,” Maiocco continued. “I’m not saying that anything is imminent there but that’s the first thing that the 49ers have to figure out. Are they really gonna keep CJ Beathard as the third quarterback on the roster when they haven’t kept three quarterbacks before? And if they decide yes, then that means that’s gonna be one-fewer defensive lineman or one-fewer linebacker or one-fewer defensive back, so that kind-of has a ripple effect through the roster.”
Ballard, the general manager of the Indianapolis Colts, could be looking to land another quarterback in the wake of Luck’s retirement as some insurance in case Jacoby Brissett doesn’t adequately fill the large shoes left by Luck.
The backup quarterback battle isn’t the lone roster spot battle of importance, and Maiocco detailed how tonight’s game could have implications for other roster spots – specifically with running backs and the defensive line.
“In the past couple of days Jerick McKinnon… looks like that’s gonna be a roster spot that will open up for somebody, either Jeff Wilson or somebody at another position. And then Kentavius Street, who was probably going to make this team, he’s likely going on season-ending IR so that opens up a spot for another defensive lineman to step in there or someone at another position. So, right now it’s all about monitoring the health of the team, how the team gets through tonight ’cause there will be guys tonight that’ll be on the 53-man roster, but if one of those guys who’s kind-of slated for a backup role gets injured then that opens the door for someone else and not-necessarily somebody else at the same position.”
Listen to the full interview with Maiocco below. To hear him discuss the implications of tonight’s final preseason game against the Chargers start from 1:38.