Kaelon Black is on the San Francisco 49ers' initial 53-man roster as announced at the August 30, 2026 mandatory cut. Scored off the initial 53 only: the practice squad is a miss, a later signing or elevation after the initial roster is a miss, and being placed on injured reserve from the initial 53 counts as a hit.
Kaelon Black is credited with at least one kickoff return in the 49ers' preseason finale at Las Vegas on August 27, 2026.
Nick Martin is on the San Francisco 49ers' initial 53-man roster announced at the August 30, 2026 cutdown. The take is WRONG if he is waived, released, traded, or placed on injured reserve or reserve/PUP before that roster is submitted, and WRONG if his name is absent from it for any other reason.
Jalen Stroman is on the San Francisco 49ers' initial 53-man roster as announced at the August 30, 2026 cutdown. Scored off the club's announced initial 53-man roster and nothing else. The practice squad is not the 53, and a signing, claim or elevation after the initial roster is announced is not the 53. A player placed on injured reserve FROM the initial 53 counts as having made it, per the Kaelon Black precedent of 2026-07-29.
Nate Hobbs is on the San Francisco 49ers' initial 53-man roster as announced at the August 30, 2026 cutdown. Scored off the club's announced initial 53-man roster and nothing else. The practice squad is not the 53, and a signing, claim or elevation after the initial roster is announced is not the 53. A player placed on injured reserve FROM the initial 53 counts as having made it, per the Kaelon Black precedent of 2026-07-29.
Jordan Watkins is NOT on the San Francisco 49ers' initial 53-man roster as announced at the August 30, 2026 cutdown. If his name is on that roster, this is WRONG. Scored off the club's announced initial 53-man roster and nothing else. The practice squad is not the 53, and a signing, claim or elevation after the initial roster is announced is not the 53. A player placed on injured reserve FROM the initial 53 counts as having made it, per the Kaelon Black precedent of 2026-07-29.
Ashtyn Davis is NOT on the San Francisco 49ers' initial 53-man roster as announced at the August 30, 2026 cutdown. If his name is on that roster, this is WRONG. Scored off the club's announced initial 53-man roster and nothing else. The practice squad is not the 53, and a signing, claim or elevation after the initial roster is announced is not the 53. A player placed on injured reserve FROM the initial 53 counts as having made it, per the Kaelon Black precedent of 2026-07-29.
The 49ers win 10 or more of their 17 regular-season games in 2026. The stated line is 9.5; 9 wins or fewer grades this WRONG.
Kaelon Black finishes with more 2026 regular-season rushing yards than Jordan James. A tie grades this WRONG.
The 49ers opened 1-0 with a 27-7 win over the Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Thursday evening in the Bay Area and Friday morning in Australia. Los Angeles reached the San Francisco 1 in the third quarter and turned the ball over on downs; San Francisco answered with an 11-play, 99-yard touchdown drive. Connor Colby started at left guard and the whole line played every snap, George Kittle played 30 of 65 in his return, Kaelon Black carried more often than Christian McCaffrey, and De'Zhaun Stribling started at receiver without being thrown to. Nine takeaways off the official game book.

San Francisco's public depth chart carried an empty box at left guard from August 27 until this week. Read at 2:52 p.m. Pacific on Sunday, it is stamped 09/4/26 and lists Connor Colby first at left guard and Carver Willis second. It also lists Kaelon Black second at running back ahead of Jordan James, which is the other job Kyle Shanahan called fluid on August 31, and George Kittle and Nick Bosa as starters. Colby was the incumbent in July, was passed by Robert Jones and then by Willis in August, and is first again on the club's own page. Jarrett Patterson, traded for to compete at guard, is listed second at center. The chart predates three roster moves and has one empty box left, at long snapper. The first Melbourne practice is Sunday at 7:50 p.m. Pacific.

The 49ers beat the Raiders 18-12 at Allegiant Stadium on Thursday night. Eddy Pineiro made all six of his field goals and scored every point San Francisco scored; neither team reached the end zone. The official game book lists five rookies in the starting lineup, three on offense: Carver Willis at left guard, Enrique Cruz Jr. at left tackle and Kaelon Black at running back. Cruz played all 61 offensive snaps and rookie safety Jalen Stroman played all 66 on defense. Jaden Dugger led the team with ten tackles, Jordan James played his first snaps of the preseason and drew a penalty that wiped out a touchdown, and Jordan Watkins ran, caught and returned. The roster is due at 53 on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. PT.

San Francisco opened camp with a two-man competition to back up Christian McCaffrey. Across two preseason games Kaelon Black has carried the ball eight times and Jordan James has not carried it at all, because one had an adductor injury and the other a fractured rib. Sincere McCormick, a third-year back outside the projected 53, leads the team with 16 carries for 91 yards. One practice and one game remain before the roster is due Sunday.

Notes from Tuesday's joint practice against the Chargers in El Segundo, in order of what they do to the 53. The left guard competition moved, the secondary gave up deep balls to three different men, and a number of starters will play Thursday.
