Updated 49ers 2022 53-man roster, 16-man practice squad, injured lists, roster projection, with cap ramifications, 9.0

Today I thought I would do an updated 2022 53-man roster projection, but before we do that, let’s take a look at the new practice squad rules below.

6 veterans allowed on practice squads. Three elevations allowed now. Other changes ??? https://t.co/IMjGL8v2Wz

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 25, 2022

Practice squads are limited to 16 players, with one additional international player allowed (must have non-US residency and citizenship, i.e. Alfredo Gutierrez).

Up to six players on the practice squad can be veterans, with no limit on the number of accrued seasons.

Up to two players may have two accrued seasons with no limit on the number of active games in each of those seasons.

The rest must have either no accrued seasons (less than 6 games on the active roster in one season), or one accrued season with fewer than nine games on the active roster.

Teams may no longer protect practice squad players from being signed to another team’s active roster, which was the case last season. A practice squad player may not move to another team’s practice squad, it must be a promotion to the active roster.

Teams may promote practice squad players to the active roster for a game up to three times during the regular season and revert to the practice squad after the game without going through waivers and not having to clear a spot on the active roster.

Additionally, the league also announced the roster cut down dates:

August 16th, 2022: From 90 to 85 players.

August 23rd, 2022: From 85 to 80 players.

August 30th, 2022: From 80 to 53 players.

Also, the NFL announced that you can have 8 players who can be designated to return off IR, that includes both the active roster, & practice squad, and that NFI & PUP is now only 4 games, instead of the previous 6 games needed to miss.

Alright, with all of that said, let’s take a look at my latest 49ers 2022 roster projection, 53-man roster, 16-man practice squad, & injured lists.

But first let’s look at how I view the 49ers current roster, with bolded players being locks.

Offense:
QB(4): 5 Trey Lance(2024), 10 Jimmy Garoppolo(2022), 7 Nate Sudfeld(2022), & 14 Brock Purdy(2025)
RB(6): 25 Elijah Mitchell(2024), 22 Jeff Wilson Jr.(2022), 28 Trey Sermon(2024), 32 Tyrion Davis-Price(2025), 23 JaMycal Hasty(2022), & 41 Jordan Mason(2024)
FB(2): 44 Kyle Juszcyzk(2025), & 40 Josh Hokit(2022)
WR(12): 19 Deebo Samuel(2022), 11 Brandon Aiyuk(2023), 15 Jauan Jennings(2022), 3 Ray-Ray McCloud III(2023), 86 Danny Gray(2025), 17 Malik Turner(2022), 6 Marcus Johnson(2022), 81 Austin Mack(2022), 13 KeeSean Johnson(2022), 83 Tay Martin(2024), & 24 Taysir Mack(2024)
TE(6): 85 George Kittle(2025), 89 Charlie Woerner(2023), 82 Ross Dwelley(2022), 84 Tanner Hudson(2022), 88 Jordan Matthews(2022), 49 Troy Fumagalli(2022), & 47 Tyler Kroft(2022)
C(4): 50 Alex Mack(2023), 64 Jake Brendel(2022), 61 Dohnovan West(2024), & 62 Jason Poe(2024)
OG(5): 65 Aaron Banks(2024), 76 Jaylon Moore(2024), 60 Daniel Brunskill(2022), 63 Nick Zakelj(2025), & 66 Keaton Sutherland(2022)
OT(7): 71 Trent Williams(2026), 69 Mike McGlinchey(2022), 74 Spencer Burford(2025), 68 Colton McKivitz(2022), 67 Justin Skule(2022), Sam Schlueter(2024), & 77 Alfredo Gutierrez(2022)

Defense:
DE(9): 97 Nick Bosa(2023), 56 Samson Ebukam(2022), 92 Kerry Hyder Jr.(2022), 53 Kemoko Turay(2022), 94 Charles Omenihu(2022), 95 Drake Jackson(2025), 75 Jordan Willis(2022), 55 Dee Ford(2022), & 58 Alex Barrett(2022)
DT(4): 91 Arik Armstead(2024), 90 Kevin Givens(2022), 96 Maurice Hurst Jr.(2022), & 77 Kevin Atkins(2024)
NT(4): 99 Javon Kinlaw(2023), 98 Hassan Ridgeway(2022), & 93 Kalia Davis(2025)
LB(9): 54 Fred Warner(2026), 57 Dre Greenlaw(2022), 51 Azeez Al-Shaair(2022), 48 Oren Burks(2023), 45 Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles(2022), 59 Curtis Robinson(2022), 47 Jeremiah Gemmel(2024), 49 Segun Olubi(2024), & 40 Marcelino McCrary-Ball(2024)
CB(12): 35 Charvarius Ward(2024), 4 Emmanuel Moseley(2022), 20 Ambry Thomas(2024), 38 Deommodore Lenoir(2024), 27 Dontae Johnson(2022), 26 Samuel Womack III(2025), 36 Tariq Castro-Fields(2025), 2 Jason Verrett(2022), 31 Darqueze Dennard(2022), 24 Ka’dar Hollman(2022), 43 Qwuantrezz Knight(2024)
S(6): 1 Jimmie Ward(2022), 33 Tarvarius Moore(2022), 29 Talanoa Hufanga(2024), 30 George Odum(2024), 14 Leon O’Neal Jr.(2024), & 41 Tayler Hawkins(2024)

Special Teams:
PK(1): 9 Robbie Gould(2022)
P(1): 18 Mitch Wishnowsky(2022)
LS(1): 46 Taybor Pepper(2022)

Notes:

At quarterback, I just can’t see how the 49ers can justify keeping Garoppolo on the 53-man roster, or even letting him play preseason games, not when the team needs that $25 million in cap room for 1. 2022 and 2. To carryover into 2023.

At running back, I see JaMycal Hasty as the odd man out, especially after the Tyrion Davis-Price pick.

When it comes to the teams’ wide receivers, I think it’s possible that they keep 5, but head coach Kyle Shanahan usually keeps 6 wide receivers, so if that continues, it should come down to the two veterans that they signed, Malik Turner, & Marcus Johnson, with Turner being the guy that I see making it if they do carry 6.

The tight end position is pretty much set, barring an injury or roster move, but, I do wish they would have addressed the #2 TE spot in the draft, but hopefully Ross Dwelley can improve from 2021, because he didn’t look particularly great or even good, with Charlie Woerner overtaking him as the #2 TE.

On the offensive line there are a lot of questions to be answered, like, who will be the teams’ right guard? Left guard? Center? Will Alex Mack come back? I can’t give definitive answers, but my feeling is Mack returns, Aaron Banks at left guard, & Jaylon Moore at right guard, with Spencer Burford being a swing Tackle, who should see time at right tackle, either in preseason, or regular season, depending on Mike McGlinchey’s health, and I expect Daniel Brunskill, & Colton McKivitz to win backup spots, as they’re both versatile, and still young.

On the defensive line, I think 5 of the 6 EDGE rusher spots are locked in, barring injuries or bad play, with the team looking at either Jordan Willis or Charles Omenihu as the 6th EDGE rusher, as for the interior part of the defensive line, I expect the backup 3-Technique to come down to Kevin Givens, or Maurice Hurst Jr., while Javon Kinlaw, & Hassan Ridgeway will play that 2i position, which is where I envision Kalia Davis, being a big nose tackle, but, Davis will start the season on reserve/NFI due to a torn ACL from last October, but this is a very deep group, maybe deeper than 2019? Definitely 2020 & 2021.

At linebacker, I see them keeping 4, so unless they decide to go thin at another spot, then they should go with just 4, as this is a norm for the 49ers since Kyle Shanahan, & John Lynch came in.

When it comes to the cornerback spot, I see both Samuel Womack, & Tariq Castro-Fields making it, along with Deommodore Lenoir, as I just can’t see any of them clearing waivers, with Dontae Johnson likely starting on the practice squad, and Jason Verrett beginning on reserve/PUP list or reserve/injured-designated-for-return list.

At the safety position is uncertainty, not at free safety, as Jimmie Ward will start, but at strong safety, where it’s going to come down to Tarvarius Moore, Talanoa Hufanga, or George Odum, with, in my opinion, Moore having the edge.

Now when it comes to the special teams’ unit, I believe it will be much better, with the likes of Oren Burks, George Odum added, plus new returner Ray-Ray McCloud, & 3rd-round pick Danny Gray, who does have some experience, albeit, limited, at returning, so McCloud should be the teams’ primary returner, with Gray being the backup.

As for the teams’ undrafted free agents, I feel the players with the best chance to make the 53-man roster are, centers Dohnovan West, & Jason Poe, linebacker Jeremiah Gemmel, & strong safety Leon O’Neal Jr.

Next up is my list of locks, 50/50s, & longshots, with their 2022 salary cap number.

Locks:

1. QB 5 Trey Lance(2024)- $7,751,195
2. QB 7 Nate Sudfeld(2022)- $2,000,000
3. RB 25 Elijah Mitchell(2024)- $870,893
4. RB 28 Trey Sermon(2024)- $1,107,485
5. RB 32 Tyrion Davis-Price(2025)- $928,826
6. FB 44 Kyle Juszcyzk(2025)- $2,958,750
7. WR 19 Deebo Samuel(2022)- $4,809,519
8. WR 11 Brandon Aiyuk(2023)- $3,417,641
9. WR 15 Jauan Jennings(2022)- $825,000
10. WR/KR/PR 3 Ray-Ray McCloud III(2023)- $1,910,000
11. WR 86 Danny Gray(2025)- $917,255
12. TE 85 George Kittle(2025)- $7,679,765
13. TE 89 Charlie Woerner(2023)- 940,258
14. TE 82 Ross Dwelley(2022)- $1,047,500
15. C 50 Alex Mack(2023)- $6,725,000
16. LG 65 Aaron Banks(2024)- $1,607,638
17. RG 76 Jaylon Moore(2024)- $905,759
18. RG 60 Daniel Brunskill(2022)- $2,433,000
19. LT 71 Trent Williams(2026)- $14,031,765
20. LT 68 Colton McKivitz(2022)- $895,000
21. RT 69 Mike McGlinchey(2022)- $10,880,000
22. RT 74 Spencer Burford(2025)- $873,014
23. DE 97 Nick Bosa(2023)- $10,805,564
24. DE 56 Samson Ebukam(2022)- $8,250,000
25. DE 53 Kemoko Turay(2022)- $1,700,000
26. DE 92 Kerry Hyder Jr.(2022)- $1,500,000
27. DE 95 Drake Jackson(2025)- $1,071,344
28. DT 91 Arik Armstead(2024)- $9,576,000
29. NT 99 Javon Kinlaw(2023)- $4,224,191
30. NT 98 Hassan Ridgeway(2022)- $1,800,000
31. NT 93 Kalia Davis(2025)*- $738,003
32. WLB 57 Dre Greenlaw(2022)- $2,620,429
33. MLB 54 Fred Warner(2026)- $8,134,588
34. MLB 48 Oren Burks(2023)- $1,408,000
35. SLB 51 Azeez Al-Shaair(2022)- $3,986,000
36. CB 35 Charvarius Ward(2024)- $3,800,000
37. CB 4 Emmanuel Moseley(2022)- $6,555,529
38. CB 20 Ambry Thomas(2024)- $1,087,693
39. CB 38 Deommodore Lenoir(2024)- $896,217
40. CB 26 Samuel Womack III(2025)- $775,831
41. CB 36 Tariq Castro-Fields(2025)- $738,003
42. CB 2 Jason Verrett(2022)*- $895,000
43. FS 1 Jimmie Ward(2022)- $12,935,588
44. FS 33 Tarvarius Moore(2022)- $1,035,000
45. SS 29 Talanoa Hufanga(2024)- $885,038
46. SS 30 George Odum(2024)- $1,435,000
47. PK 9 Robbie Gould(2022)- $5,509,313
48. P 18 Mitch Wishnowsky(2022)- $1,156,018
49. LS 46 Taybor Pepper(2022)- $1,120,000

50/50s:

1. QB 10 Jimmy Garoppolo(2022)- $26,950,000
2. RB 22 Jeff Wilson Jr.(2022)- $1,085,000
3. RB 23 JaMycal Hasty(2022)- $895,000
4. WR 17 Malik Turner(2022)- $945,000
5. WR 6 Marcus Johnson(2022)- $895,000
6. C 64 Jake Brendel(2022)- $895,000
7. C 61 Dohnovan West(2024)- $710,000
8. C 62 Jason Poe(2024)- $708,333
9. LG 63 Nick Zakelj(2025)- $752,590
10. DE 94 Charles Omenihu(2022)- $2,540,000
11. DE 75 Jordan Willis(2022)- $970,000
12. DE 55 Dee Ford(2022)- $6,949,997
13. DT 90 Kevin Givens(2022)- $895,000
14. DT 96 Maurice Hurst Jr.(2022)- $945,000
15. WLB 47 Jeremiah Gemmel(2024)- $711,666
16. SLB 45 Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles(2022)- $895,000
17. CB 27 Dontae Johnson(2022)- $1,047,500
18. CB 31 Darqueze Dennard(2022)- $895,000
19. SS 14 Leon O’Neal Jr.(2024)- $708,333

Longshots:

1. QB 14 Brock Purdy(2025)- $724,253
2. RB 41 Jordan Mason(2024)- $708,333
3. FB 40 Josh Hokit(2022)- $705,000
4. WR 13 KeeSean Johnson(2022)- $895,000
5. WR 81 Austin Mack(2022)- $825,000
6. WR 83 Tay Martin(2024)- $707,833
7. WR 24 Taysir Mack(2024)- $705,000
8. TE 84 Tanner Hudson(2022)- $895,000
9. TE 88 Jordan Matthews(2022)- $895,000
10. TE 49 Troy Fumagalli(2022)- $895,000
11. TE 47 Tyler Kroft(2022)- $895,000
12. RG 66 Keaton Sutherland(2022)- $895,000
13. LT 78 Sam Schlueter(2024)- $706,666
14. RT 67 Justin Skule(2022)- $939,887
15. RT 77 Alfredo Gutierrez(2022)- $705,000
16. DE 58 Alex Barrett(2022)- $825,000
17. DT 77 Kevin Atkins(2024)- $706,666
18. WLB 49 Segun Olubi(2024)- $706,000
19. WLB 59 Curtis Robinson(2022)- $825,000
20. SLB 40 Marcelino McCrary-Ball(2024)- $711,666
21. CB 43 Qwuantrezz Knight(2024)- $707,000
22. CB 24 Ka’dar Hollman(2022)- $895,000
23. FS 41 Tayler Hawkins(2024)- $708,333

Next up is my latest priojected roster.

 53-Man Roster:

1. QB 5 Trey Lance(2024)- $7,751,195
2. QB 7 Nate Sudfeld(2022)- $2,000,000
3. RB 25 Elijah Mitchell(2024)- $870,893
4. RB 22 Jeff Wilson Jr.(2022)- $1,085,000
5. RB 28 Trey Sermon(2024)- $1,107,485
6. RB 32 Tyrion Davis-Price(2025)- $928,826
7. FB 44 Kyle Juszcyzk(2025)- $2,958,750
8. WR 19 Deebo Samuel(2022)- $4,890,519
9. WR 11 Brandon Aiyuk(2023)- $3,417,641
10. WR 15 Jauan Jennings(2022)- $825,000
11. WR/KR/PR 3 Ray-Ray McCloud III(2023)- $1,910,000
12. WR 86 Danny Gray(2025)- $917,255
13. WR 17 Malik Turner(2022)- $970,000
14. TE 85 George Kittle(2025)- $7,679,765
15. TE 89 Charlie Woerner(2023)- $940,258
16. TE 82 Ross Dwelley(2022)- $1,047,500
17. C 50 Alex Mack(2022)- $5,075,000
18. C 64 Jake Brendel(2022)- $895,000
19. LG 65 Aaron Banks(2024)- $1,607,638
20. RG 76 Jaylon Moore(2024)- $905,759
21. RG 60 Daniel Brunskill(2022)- $2,433,000
22. LT 71 Trent Williams(2026)- $14,031,765
23. LT 68 Colton McKivitz(2022)- $895,000
24. RT 69 Mike McGlinchey(2022)- $10,880,000
25. RT 74 Spencer Burford(2025)- $873,014
26. DE 97 Nick Bosa(2023)- $10,805,564
27. DE 56 Samson Ebukam(2022)- $8,250,000
28. DE 53 Kemoko Turay(2022)- $1,700,000
29. DE 92 Kerry Hyder Jr.(2022)- $1,500,000
30. DE 95 Drake Jackson(2025)- $1,071,344
31. DE 94 Charles Omenihu(2022)- $2,540,000
32. DT 91 Arik Armstead(2024)- $9,576,000
33. DT 90 Kevin Givens(2022)- $895,000
34. NT 99 Javon Kinlaw(2023)- $4,224,191
35. NT 98 Hassan Ridgeway(2022)- $1,800,000
36. WLB 57 Dre Greenlaw(2022)- $2,620,429
37. MLB 54 Fred Warner(2026)- $8,134,588
38. MLB 48 Oren Burks(2023)- $1,408,000
39. SLB 51 Azeez Al-Shaair(2022)- $3,986,000
40. CB 35 Charvarius Ward(2024)- $3,800,000
41. CB 4 Emmanuel Moseley(2022)- $6,555,529
42. CB 20 Ambry Thomas(2024)- $1,087,693
43. CB 27 Dontae Johnson(2022)- $1,047,500
44. CB 38 Deommodore Lenoir(2024)- $896,217
45. CB 26 Samuel Womack III(2025)- $775,831
46. CB 36 Tariq Castro-Fields(2025)- $738,003
47. FS 1 Jimmie Ward(2022)- $12,935,588
48. FS 33 Tarvarius Moore(2022)- $1,035,000
49. SS 29 Talanoa Hufanga(2024)- $885,038
50. SS 30 George Odum(2024)- $1,435,000
51. PK 9 Robbie Gould(2022)- $5,509,313
52. P 18 Mitch Wishnowsky(2022)- $1,156,018
53. LS 46 Taybor Pepper(2022)- $1,120,000

Practice Squad:

1. QB 14 Brock Purdy- $207,000
2. RB 41 Jordan Mason- $207,000
3. WR 6 Marcus Johnson*- $277,200
4. WR 83 Tay Martin- $207,000
5. TE 47 Tyler Kroft*- $277,200
6. TE 49 Troy Fumagalli*- $277,200
7. C 61 Dohnovan West- $207,000
8. C 62 Jason Poe- $207,000
9. LG 63 Nick Zakelj- $207,000
10. RT 77 Alfredo Gutierrez**- $0
11. DE 75 Jordan Willis*- $277,200
12. DT 96 Maurice Hurst Jr.*- $277,200
13. WLB 47 Jeremiah Gemmel- $207,000
14. SLB 40 Marcelino McCrary-Ball- $207,000
15. CB 31 Darqueze Dennard*- $277,200
16. CB 43 Qwuantrezz Knight- $207,000
17. SS 14 Leon O’Neal Jr.- $207,000

Injured Lists:

1. NT 93 Kalia Davis(2025)- $738,003 [NFI]
2. CB 2 Jason Verrett(2022)- $895,000 [PUP]

With this roster the 49ers would have a cap commitment of $181,400,312 for the 53-man roster, 16-man practice squad, & 2 injured players, plus $14,372,782 in dead money, for a total cap commitment of $195,773,094, leaving them $17,601,067 under their 2022 adjusted cap.

And as always, I thank you for reading, leave a comment, or follow me on Twitter @49erscap.

About Author

Jason Hurley

Die Hard 49ers fan from New York, been covering the 49ers salary cap since 2005, with several different websites, including NinersNation.com, & the now defunct NinerCapHell, I have a track record of being as accurate as possible, I try to be as thorough as possible, and you can find me on X/Twitter @49erscap, & on Blue Sky App @49erscap.bsky.social.

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