Injury waves crash the San Francisco 49ers as they prep for the final preseason test, with Gage sidelined by an MCL sprain and Sky Moore back in the mix. The roster bubble remains crowded behind Brock Purdy, whose rhythm needs fuel from a still-developing receiving corps. Sky Moore’s return adds speed and a versatile option, but the absence of Gage complicates Week 1 depth charts and raises questions about how many high-upside veterans the team will carry in a crowded WR room.

Chase Lucas has turned heads in camp and looks like a prime bubble candidate, while the 49ers sort safeties—Pinnock, Brown, and Seagull—around Malik Mustafa’s return. The longer injury list and quarterback movement create a nerve-wracking but intriguing path to the 53-man roster, where late-round finds like Lucas and a couple of defensive backs could swing fantasy value. Meanwhile, Purdy and the offense must forge chemistry with a moving target group, increasing the appeal of versatile playmakers and opportunistic special teams contributors as potential x-factors for fantasy playoffs and daily leagues.

Kyle Shanahan provided their latest injury updates and a clearer picture of the 49ers’ ramp to Week 1, detailing Dominic Pun’s timeline and the guard rotation as Ben Bart and Connor Kobe take turns. The offense faces depth concerns with Pun’s health and two guard spots in question, while Brock Purdy readies for the opener with a preference for quick, safe throws. A wave of returns—Ronaldo Green, Nick Martin, Isaac Garendo, and Demarcus Robinson—brightens practice but also amplifies the roster juggling ahead of cut day. In the secondary, Chase Lucas and Marcus Seagull are pushing hard, with Equanimeous St. Brown, Ricky Pearsall, and Deebo Samuel shaping a versatile WR corps. Rumors of late‑summer moves (Justin Simmons, among others) loom as the 53‑man roster takes final form, while the D‑line and linebackers finally show depth to match the plan. Week 1 could hinge on a lean, efficient Brock Purdy and discovered playmakers stepping up when the protection remains thin.

The 49ers’ preseason win over the Raiders spotlighted a sharp, game-ready defense and a revitalized special teams unit, fueling optimism beyond the box score. San Francisco closed the game with a stingy defensive stand and two takeaways, while their special teams carried the late-game weight—Jake Moody supplied key field goals under pressure, and the squad finished with back-to-back drives that the previous season lacked. The second half was all about execution: every SF possession ended in a field goal, while the defense kept Vegas from a TD, underscoring a foundational shift from last year’s late-game woes.

Injuries dominated the chatter, but the optimism centered on structure and depth. Dominic Puny’s unknown ACL-like scare shifted to a PCL note, preserving his season’s arc for Week 1. With multiple running backs sidelined and receivers banged up, SF highlighted the need for roster churn and depth. The club even worked out Nate Sudfeld, signaling ongoing strategic moves as the cut-down clock ticks. Debo Samuel and Brock Purdy showed signs of cohesion, while Moody’s red-hot finish cemented him as a pressure-tested weapon in the kicking game. Fantasy players should watch Purdy’s growth and Moody’s reliability as the regular season nears.

San Francisco’s defense leapt off the tape in preseason, blending aggressive pressure with versatile coverage. Nick Bosa’s lingering soreness looms as a staffing concern, while the run of camp bodies and depth pieces on the 49ers’ back end reshapes Week 1 projections. Bo Nix’s Broncos slate provided a contrasting test, with Daniel-esque pressure forcing quick checks and post-snap reads that underscored Salah’s scheme as a force multiplier rather than a one-man show. Chase Lucas flashed as a key contributor in man coverage, and Kalia Davis and Tatum Bethune emerged as real depth pieces who can impact the defensive ceiling sooner than expected. The film breakdown highlighted Seattle-3 roots, palms/quarters reads, and fire-zone blitzes that keep offenses guessing and allow Bosa, Huff, and Williams to generate pressure with four rushers. The unit’s cohesion—backed by disciplined tackling and crisp zone-coverage transitions—suggests San Francisco can escalate from a strength of its roster to a true schemed-strength defense, even if Week 1 health luck remains a concern. Fantasy takeaway: monitor Bosa’s practice status, value Lucas and Bethune as interim defensive darts, and anticipate more intricate blitz packages that boost multiple San Francisco players beyond the stars.