Now this one WAS a battle of the deep backups and players-to-be-cut. Minor notes here from this one...
As for the game itself...it was another week of the 49ers playing really good defense, no matter what level of talent was in...and it got them the win. This 49ers defense is scaring me (how good they have been showing) for my UNDER 49ers’ win total bets...I’m betting on their roster turmoil translating to problems in-season 2025. But they have looked good despite the mass changes and injuries.
Player Notes...
-- The first player note is about a kicker...
Jake Moody (1/1 FG, 3/4) shanked his first XP attempt. He’s been struggling all camp...there is growing concern the 49ers will have to replace him/that he will cost them games right away if he stays as their season start kicker.
How the mighty have fallen. He used to be thought of as a rising PK star.
He’s on a very short leash. Don’t touch him for FF off the bat.
-- Every week of the preseason I think it: The 49ers defense looks really good/engaged/energized/deep. A lot of personnel turnover this offseason, and a lot of rookies playing now...but the youth and new faces looks like an energy drink shot to their soul this preseason. We’ll see how they do in the regular season...it should be a slow start with all the young players they are gonna play, but...
Three rookies are set to start, and two others are rotating heavily...and two journeymen are starting this season as well. It might take a few weeks for that DST to gel, if it does.
-- Isaac Guerendo (8-13-0, 1-1-0/1) was back from injury and was forced to play with the 3rd-team offense to start this game. He looked very sluggish/‘depressed’ to be forced to work this game. Since the acquisition of Brian Robinson, Guerendo’s FF-heat has radically cooled off.
Guerendo was always hurt in college, and now he’s having the same issues in the pros.
-- LAC UDFA RB Rahiem Sanders (13-48-0, 2-1-0/2) started at RB. He is a solid straight-ahead runner and pretty decent pass catcher, but his kryptonite is when he has to change directions...it totally kills his run-ability the moment he tries to slow for a cut or makes the change of direction...and he tries to dance WAY too much.
He’s impressed enough to get picked up by the Browns after LAC cut him...he’s on the Browns 53-man roster, probably until the Quinshon Judkins situation gets sorted out.
-- Trey Lance (5-8 for 38 yards) won the #2 QB job, but he never really looked any better this preseason than prior years. No growth in Lance’s game in 2025. He’s going to be a backup for another year or two/three and then quietly disappear from the league, I imagine.
But, if you have Justin Herbert in a deep league...Lance is the ‘handcuff’, and he may not be a good NFL QB but he’s not a bad 4pts pass TD scoring FF QB.
-- LAC guys that I’m a little surprised played here...
Derius Davis (0-0-0/1) is still seen as a backup, #4-5 WR. I think he should be a #4 who rotates in a bunch for 3-5 touches for some KaVontae Turpin type work, but not sure LAC agrees.
Rookie TE Oronde Gadsden (3-46-1/4) looked his best, most comfortable of the preseason here. Really smooth. Using his speed to get open. Nice hands. Likely nothing for 2025 but has a future for sure.
Rookie WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (0-0-0/1) is definitely not starting over Tre Harris. He will rotate as a #4-5 WR to start this year with Keenan Allen now in hand.
-- IDP Notes...
LAC UDFA rookie CB Nikko Reed (2 tackles, 1 PD) has had a truly great camp/preseason. Every preseason game I saw Reed in the middle of the action, making plays in coverage. He made the team and is listed as the #2 CB...and I wouldn’t be shocked if he leapt starting CB Donte Jackson quickly and became a starter.
SF rookie LB Nick Martin (8 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PD) is definitely NOT starting, judging by him not playing here until the 2nd-team defense was rotated out...but he looks very good, very quick to the ball like he was in college. 2026 is likely more ‘his time’.
