49ers' Preseason Finale Hurts Several Players' Roster Chances

Several San Francisco 49ers saw their roster stock drop in the preseason finale against Las Vegas. Wide receiver Jordan Watkins struggled on kick returns and routes, while offensive lineman Connor Colby and defensive tackle Alfred Collins failed to stand out. Their performances may have cost them a spot on the 53-man roster.

The preseason finale served as a final evaluation opportunity for roster hopefuls. Watkins was thrust into kick return duties with Jacob Cowing inactive and failed to impress, also appearing to run routes at less than full speed on his first target from Mac Jones. Colby had already been passed over in the left guard competition by rookie Carver Willis, and the team appears to prefer him as backup right guard behind Dominick Puni, who is dealing with concussion-like symptoms.

Collins and West both played deep into the second half, which typically signals coaching staff uncertainty about their readiness. Neither made an impact against mostly backup competition. Dugger, a rookie, had shown promise against backups in earlier preseason games but whiffed on a tackle against Las Vegas starters, raising questions about his transition to facing first-team talent. The 49ers' defensive tackle depth remains a concern, with rookie Gracen Halton viewed as a stronger option.