49ers near 53-man cut as rookies push for depth

The San Francisco 49ers are closing in on the final stretch of a turbulent training camp, with two-thirds of practices behind them, injuries mounting, and a weeks‑long range of roster decisions looming as the club must pare down to 53 players by the official cutdown date. With one more preseason game in Nevada and several joint practices in the books, the team is balancing hopeful developments from its young players against the practical need to stabilize depth across the depth chart.

Rookie momentum stands out as a recurring theme in the evaluations. At running back, Corey Kiner has emerged as a bright spot for a unit that has been trying to identify a reliable complementary runner behind the top backs, while fifth-rounder Jordan James has faced setbacks due to knee and finger injuries. Coach Kyle Shanahan praised Kiner after a recent outing, highlighting his hard running and the “mentality he ran with” as a sign of growth that could influence late‑summer decisions. The backfield battle, like others, could come down to waivers or practice-squad opportunities once the roster is trimmed.

On the defensive line, Sebastian Valdez has moved into a stronger position, with consistent...