The odd man out in the 49ers' quarterback competition turned out to be the new guy. The 49ers this evening announced they had cut 21 players in an effort to trim their roster to 53 men, and the most prominent name was Josh Johnson's.
The quarterback had by far his best effort of the exhibition season Thursday in throwing for 125 yards and two touchdowns and adding 50 yards on the ground. Still, the 49ers will go into the season with the same three quarterbacks from a year ago: Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick and Scott Tolzien.
The 49ers' initial cuts also leave them with just three outside linebackers for the second straight season. Among those cut Friday were seventh-round draft pick Cam Johnson, Erik Bakhtiari, Kenny Rowe and Ikaika Alama-Francis. The three surviving outside linebackers are Aldon Smith, Ahmad Brooks and Parys Haralson.
The 49ers will go into the season with five safeties: Dashon Goldson, Donte Whitner, C.J. Spillman, Darcel McBath and sixth-round pick Trenton Robinson. Also making the initial roster was tight end Garrett Celek, the younger brother of Eagles tight end Brent Celek. An undrafted rookie, Celek caught a touchdown from Johnson Thursday night.
The 49ers also appear poised to enter the season with eight offensive linemen after having nine on the 53-man roster a year ago. They are: Joe Staley, Mike Iupati, Jonathan Goodwin, Alex Boone and Anthony Davis. The backups would be Leonard Davis, Daniel Kilgore and draft pick Joe Looney.
Mike Person, a seventh-round draft pick in 2011, was released. He made the final roster a year ago but was not active for any of the games. He can play both tackle and guard, and the 49ers intend to sign him to the practice squad if he clears waivers. The 49ers plan to do the same with Al Netter, an undrafted player out of Northwestern, who can play tackle and guard.
Draft picks Johnson and Jason Slowey did not make the team. Another pick, fifth rounder Darius Fleming, suffered an ACL tear in May.
Released:
OLB Ikaika Alama-Francis
OLB Eric Bakhtiari
RB Rock Cartwright
OL Derek Hall
LB Joe Holland
DL Tony Jerod-Eddie
OLB Cam Johnson
QB Josh Johnson
DL Matthew Masifilo
CB Anthony Mosely
LS Kyle Nelson
OL Al Netter
WR Chris Owusu
WR Nathan Palmer
OL Mike Person
TE Konrad Reuland
OLB Kenny Rowe
WR Brett Swain
S Michael Thomas
T Kenny Wiggins
ILB Michael Wilhoite
Traded:
Colin Jones (to Carolina for a future 7th-round pick)
-- Matt Barrows
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