Cut-down day cometh. Over the next week, the 49ers must lop 36 players off their roster in order to reach the 53-man limit. Ah, but eight of those players can be brought back to the practice squad. Generally speaking, here's who is eligible:
• A. Players who do not have an accrued NFL season of free agent credit; or
• B. Players who have one or more accrued seasons, but who were on the 45-player Active List for fewer than nine regular season games during each of such accrued seasons; or
• C. Players who have not been on a practice squad more than two seasons
Who will make the squad? Obviously, the 49ers will want to keep players they think can be developed with time. Outside linebacker Kourtnei Brown, for example, might be intriguing. They also obviously like players who can fill multiple roles when preparing for an opponent. Cory Nelms - cornerback, safety, receiver - fits that description.
Receiver was a difficult spot to gauge last year. I would not have picked Joe Hastings from the group of young receivers in the 2011 training camp. But Harbaugh and co. loved his pluck and kept him around. Hastings - who's been slow to recover from a leg injury -- is eligible this year as well. So are rookies Nathan Palmer, Chris Owusu and Brian Tyms. Who makes it is anyone's guess. Also, if the 49ers keep six receivers on the 53-man squad, they may keep fewer on the practice squad. They had two on the squad last year.
Finally, Demarcus Dobbs' versatility may affect two positions. He entered Saturday's game as a pass rusher on third downs as well as a tight end. That might allow the 49ers to go into the season with one fewer outside linebacker (three) and one fewer tight end (two) than they might otherwise. Backup tight end Konrad Reuland is eligible for the practice squad; backup outside linebacker Eric Bakhtiari is not.
QB Scott Tolzien
RB LaMichael James
FB Cameron Bell
WR A.J. Jenkins
WR Ben Hannula
WR Joe Hastings
WR Chris Owusu
WR Nathan Palmer
WR Bryan Tyms
C/G Chase Beeler
G/T Derek Hall
G Joe Looney
C/G Daniel Kilgore
T Al Netter
T/G Mike Person
C Jason Slowey
T Kenny Wiggins
TE Garrett Celek
TE Kyle Nelson
TE Konrad Reuland
TE Joe Sawyer
DL Patrick Butrym
DL Tony Jerod-Eddie
DL Matt Masifilo
DL Will Tukuafu
DL Ian Williams
LB Kourtnei Brown
LB Joe Holland
LB Cam Johnson
LB Kenny Rowe
LB Michael Wilhoite
DB Anthony Mosely
DB Cory Nelms
DB Deante Purvis
DB Trenton Robinson
DB Michael Thomas
K Giorgio Tavecchio
• Rookies LB Darius Fleming and RB Jewel Hampton also are eligible for the practice squad. However, they are on injury lists and can be retained without placing them on the practice squad.
-- Matt Barrows
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