3 stars from the 49ers preseason finale: The depth at running back looks better than ever

The third preseason game is usually the dress rehearsal for the regular season, but with a trip across the world looming, Kyle Shanahan decided to see what roster spots 23-53 look like to close the preseason.

While the Las Vegas Raiders went with their starters, Thursday turned into a kicking battle, with Eddy Pineiro outdueling Matt Gay and leading the 49ers to an 18-12 victory.

Had this been a regular-season game, Pineiro would have been a runaway for the No. 1 star, but with him already a lock for the roster, let’s look at three players who used the preseason finale to earn a job and/or earn a spot on the initial 53-man roster.

These are the three stars as the 49ers close the book on the preseason and look forward to Melbourne:

3rd Star - RB Kaelon Black/RB Jordan James

The 49ers are set at running back. It might not matter with Christian McCaffrey taking the lion’s share of the carries in the regular season, but the depth is there.

Both Black and James looked the part as neither blew up the box score, but both certainly passed the eye test. The duo combined for 63 yards on 12 attempts, with both recording impressive runs during their reps.

Black got the first look on Thursday, looking to build off his impressive debut last week. While he didn’t get too many chances, just four carries, Black made the most of them, averaging seven yards per attempt, closing his day with 28 rushing yards.

A bulk of those 28 yards came on one run. With the 49ers deep in Las Vegas territory following a Fernando Mendoza interception, the 49ers wanted to get Black involved early. He would take the opening carry around the right edge and show an impressive speed boost to get the corner and turn upfield for a gain of 14. Shanahan seemed impressed enough to make that Black’s final touch of the evening.

James entered from there and got chances early. On his first drive, he was fed the ball on three straight plays, gaining nine on the first two plays before losing a yard on third down, forcing a San Francisco punt. But James would turn it on from there. It would start with a quick 20-yard reception that would move the 49ers into plus territory. A few plays later, James would get his big play, exploding through the line for a gain of 17, leading to another Pineiro field goal.

Black and James were already locks to make the initial 53-man, but seeing what they look like sharing the backfield gives plenty of confidence to a backup running back spot that’s had plenty of turnover in recent years.

2nd Star - LG Carver Willis

The 49ers have treated the left guard spot like a carousel over training camp and the preseason, with Connor Colby and Robert Jones getting first looks before Austen Pleasants got a look last week. It was Willis’s turn this week and he might not give up the spot.

Willis played the entire first half without being noticed too much, which is probably a good thing for an offensive lineman trying to earn a spot on the starting line. While Willis was on the field, the 49ers didn’t allow a single sack. And while that’s an accomplishment for the entire line, Willis also didn’t allow a single pressure according to Pro Football Focus.

It might have been a very backwards way to find a starting left guard, but Willis’s performance on Thursday might have done the trick to find an answer to the more infuriating question of 49ers training camp.

1st Star - LB Tatum Bethune/LB Jaden Dugger

With the 49ers acquiring Deion Jones earlier this week, the 49ers have about eight linebackers with a case to make the roster. Last year, the 49ers kept five linebackers on the initial 53-man, but the year before they kept six, so eight players for either five or six spots.

Obviously, somebody is going to miss out.

Dugger seemed like a sure thing to make the roster, especially with his versatility to play the defensive line. He made a strong final impression against the Raiders, leading the 49ers with 10 tackles and hit the Raiders quarterback twice. Sure, there was a bad missed tackle to stop what would turn out to be a Las Vegas third-down, but overall it was a solid performance from the rookie who has proved he could be used in a vital role this season for a somewhat rebuilt San Francisco defense.

If there was one player who stood out as much as Dugger on Thursday night, it would be Bethune. Bethune entered Thursday night more on the fringe than Dugger, which might make his game slightly more impressive. Only Dugger finished with more tackles than Bethune, who finished with nine tackles, but Bethune was more present in the passing game, recording a pass breakup and finding himself in the right spot at the right time to intercept Mendoza in the first quarter.

Two impressive performances, one from a rookie who’s looking to earn a role in the NFL, and one on the roster bubble. We will see how the 53-man roster looks come Sunday, but it was an emphatic final performance from both Bethune and Dugger.

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