San Francisco 49ers backups and young prospects, including wide receiver Jordan Watkins and running back Jordan James, made compelling cases for the 53-man roster during an 18-12 preseason victory over the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium, closing out the preseason ahead of their Week 1 opener in Australia.
With head coach Kyle Shanahan resting most of his regular starters in the desert, the preseason finale provided a final, high-stakes evaluation window for players on the roster bubble. The game itself featured all scoring through field goals, as kicker Eddy Piñeiro accounted for all 18 points for San Francisco by connecting on six attempts, including kicks from 59, 51, and 54 yards, while former 49ers kicker Matt Gay booted four field goals for Las Vegas according to Yahoo reporting.
Jordan Watkins and Young Prospects Showcase Versatility
The sophomore receiver Jordan Watkins turned in one of the most productive outings of the night, helping fill out a crowded wide receiver battle. After missing significant time during his rookie year due to an injury that stunted his early development, Watkins led the team with four receptions on eight targets for 64 yards, while adding three carries for 27 yards and handling return duties as detailed by NBC Sports Bay Area.
“I think he stepped it up. He’s always had a good attitude, but it’s how much more consistent and how much more can you attack each day. You see how guys come back in year two, and I was real excited with how he came back all the way back to Phase 1 and how he handled OTAs, and he’s done the same thing in training camp.”
Kyle Shanahan, Head Coach
Meanwhile, rookie linebacker Jaden Dugger anchored the defensive effort by recording a team-high 10 tackles—including five solo stops—and generating key pressure that stalled a third-quarter Raiders possession noted the official team site.
Backfield Depth and Offensive Line Adjustments
Behind star running back Christian McCaffrey, the 49ers enter the season with considerably more stability than at any point since his arrival via a 2022 trade. Second-year running back Jordan James made his preseason debut after missing extensive time with a rib injury, finishing with eight carries for 35 yards and a 20-yard reception reported NBC Sports Bay Area.
“It was good to see him out there. He missed a ton of camp with his injury and then had the same thing last year, when he missed all of training camp. I was really excited to watch him tonight, and from what I saw out there live, I thought he ran real hard and ran real well.”
Kyle Shanahan, Head Coach
On the offensive line, rookie Carver Willis logged extensive minutes at left guard during the first half according to Yahoo coverage.
Roster Cutdown Deadlines and Travel to Melbourne
With exhibition play concluded, general manager John Lynch and the coaching staff face final decisions as the organization prepares to trim the roster to 53 players noted ESPN. The team is scheduled to board a transpacific flight on Wednesday to Melbourne, Australia, reported Yahoo, where they will face the Los Angeles Rams in their regular-season opener on Thursday, September 10.
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