SANTA CLARA – Courageously, the 49ers resisted any urge Sunday to save all 53 roster spots for offensive linemen.
Two hours before the NFL’s roster deadline, the 49ers learned defensive menace Aaron Donald officially unretired and returned to their season-opening opponent, the Los Angeles Rams.
After all, come Week 1 in Melbourne, Australia, the 49ers must protect Brock Purdy, open lanes for Christian McCaffrey, and invincibly block both Donald and Myles Garrett, who’ve combined to win five of the past nine NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards.
Ah, but the 49ers did make a pre-deadline move for an offensive lineman: Jarrett Patterson, a fourth-year guard and center, was acquired from the Houston Texans for a 2027 seventh-round pick, ESPN first reported.
The 49ers auditioned four contestants at first-string left guard during training camp, not including veteran Brett Toth, who missed the past month and got placed Sunday on Injured Reserve with fellow interior lineman Nick Zakelj. Patterson has started 21 of 39 games played since arriving as a 2023 sixth-round pick from Notre Dame.
Alas, the 49ers will not be unveiling a 5-5-1 formation (five linemen, backed up by five linemen, then Brock Purdy). Here are some quick thoughts before a position-by-position look:
**SPECIAL CUTS**
They cut both their punter, Corliss Waitman, and long snapper, Jon Weeks. Neither is subject to waivers and can re-sign Monday. Waitman opened camp in competition with undrafted rookie Jack Bouwmeester, an Australian native who was waived by the Rams on Sunday.
**SHORT-TERM IR PICKS**
Wide receiver Christian Kirk and offensive lineman Austen Pleasants drew both the 49ers’ maximum-allowed designations to return off the Injured Reserve list. Kirk injured his calf in the first practice of camp, and Pleasants sustained a knee injury in an Aug. 20 preseason win at the Los Angeles Chargers.
Assigned to Injured Reserve for the season, unless they’re released off it, are offensive lineman Brett Toth and Nick Zaeklj.
Remaaining on the Physically Unable To Perform list, and thus ineligible through at least the first four games, are defensive end Mykel Williams and running back Isaac Guerendo.
**UNDRAFTED SUCCESS STORY**
One of the most sentimental storylines on roster-reveal day is which undrafted rookies made the cut, and in the 49ers’ case Sunday, it was defensive tackle James Thompson. The 6-foot-6, 308-pounder was at Wisconsin from 2020-24 before finishing at Illinois last season and entering the 49ers’ defensive-line rotation this season, perhaps even usurping Alfred Collins in the starting lineup next to Osa Odighizuwa.
**INFORMATION AGE**
The 49ers’ veteran-laden starting offense, as projected, carries an average age of 31, whereas the defense is 26.
Projected offensive starters: Purdy (26), McCaffrey (30), Kyle Juszczyk (35), Mike Evans (33), Deebo Samuel (30), George Kittle (32), Trent Williams (38), Carver Willis (24), Jake Brendel (33), Dominick Puni (26), and Colton McKivitz (30).
Projected defensive starters: Nick Bosa (28), Osa Odighizuwa (28), Alfred Collins (24), Sam Okuayinonu (28), Fred Warner (29), Dre Greenlaw (29), Nick Martin (23), Deommodore Lenoir (26), Renardo Green (25), Ji’Ayir Brown (26), Marques Sigle (24).
Here are the first impressions of the 49ers’ initial 53-man roster that was revealed at Sunday’s NFL deadline:
QUARTERBACKS (3)
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Brock Purdy
Mac Jones
Kurtis Rourke
WAIVED: Adrian Martinez
RUNNING BACK (4)
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Christian McCaffrey
Kyle Juszczyk
Kaelon Black
Jordan James
RELEASED: Khalil Herbert
WAIVED: Sincere McCormick
PUP: \*Isaac Guerendo (on Physically Unable To Perform List)
WIDE RECEIVER (6)
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Mike Evans
Deebo Samuel
De’Zhaun Stribling
Jacob Cowing
Demarcus Robinson
Jordan Watkins
RELEASED: Malik Turner,KhaDarel Hodge, Trenton Irwin
WAIVED: Will Pauling, Wesley Grimes
SHORT-TERM IR: Christian Kirk
\*Brandon Aiyuk remains on the reserve/left squad list
TIGHT END (4)
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George Kittle
Jake Tonges
Luke Farrell
Brayden Willis
WAIVED: Hayden Rucci, Khalil Dinkins
OFFENSIVE LINE (9)
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Trent Williams
Jake Brendel
Dominick Puni
Colton McKivitz
Carver Willis
Connor Colby
Enrique Cruz Jr.
Vederian Lowe
Jarrett Patterson
RELEASED: Robert Jones, Doug Kramer, Brandon Parker
WAIVED: Isaac Alarcon, Drake Nugent
INJURED RESERVE: Brett Toth, Nick Zakelj
SHORT-TERM IR: Austen Pleasants
\* \* \*
DEFENSIVE LINE (9)
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Nick Bosa
Mykel Williams
Keion White
Osa Odighizuwa
Gracen Halton
Alfred Collins
C.J. West
Romello Height
James Thompson
RELEASED: Quinton Bell, Ogbo Okoronkwo,
WAIVED: Evan Anderson, Bryson Eason, Sebastian Valdez, Jah Joyner, Viliami Fehoko Jr., Evan Anderson
LINEBACKER (7)
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Fred Warner
Dre Greenlaw
Tatum Bethune
Nick Martin
Luke Gifford
Jaden Dugger
Garrett Wallow
RELEASED: Deion Jones
WAIVED: Jalen Graham, Larry Worth III
CORNERBACK (6)
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Deommodore Lenoir
Renardo Green
Upton Stout
Jack Jones
Ephesians Prysock
Nate Hobbs
RELEASED: Eli Apple
WAIVED: Darrell Luter Jr., Jakob Robinson
SAFETY (4)
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Ji’Ayir Brown
Marques Sigle
Malik Mustapha
Siran Neal
RELEASED: Ashytn Davis
WAIVED: Jalen Stroman, Patrick McMoris
SPECIALISTS (1)
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Eddy Piñeiro (K)
RELEASED: Jon Weeks (LS), Corliss Waitman (P)