John Lynch breaks down 49ers’ roster, has ‘optimistic look’ at Lance finger recovery
SANTA CLARA — General manager John Lynch sounded understandably optimistic about the 49ers’ initial 53-man roster, and he also had a positive prognosis Wednesday on quarterback Trey Lance’s slight fracture to a finger.
“It’s trending in the right direction. Some of the swelling is coming down,” Lynch said on a media conference call. “(Next) Monday is a kind of an optimistic look at it.”
Coach Kyle Shanahan revealed earlier this week that Lance chipped a bone in what looked to be his right index finger during the preseason finale, but that only a week of rest would be needed for it to heal.
“I can promise you this, we’ll do right by Trey and have him in a good place before he’s back out there,” Lynch said. “We’d certainly love him available Monday. I can promise you this with Trey, he does everything he can to get well and he’s working hard at that now.”
Lance, the No. 3 overall draft pick, is expected to be available for the Sept. 12 regular-season opener, in which Jimmy Garoppolo remains the favorite to start at quarterback for his fourth straight season opener.
Here are four other topics Lynch covered before Wednesday’s practice:
JALEN HURD PROJECTION
Wide receiver Jalen Hurd stuck on the 53-man roster after an impressive workload in last week’s practice and Sunday’s win over the Raiders. That said, he hasn’t done much else over the past two years, and last August’s knee injury limited him this training camp.
“There’s some level of projection, his being a little different than (safety Jaquiski) Tartt because Tartt’s played for us before,” Lynch said. “Jalen has some special skills, unique skills and a variety of them.
“He knows it. We know it. You have to show you can be dependable and be out there. Do we feel 100 percent, ironclad he’s proven that in the short time he’s been out there? No. But the talent and physicality and attitude he plays with, that’s contagious to our team.
“We want to enter this year with Jalen there, and we’ll see how that goes.”
CURIOUS CASE OF CLINTON-DIX
The 49ers are working on bringing veteran safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix back to the practice squad after the former Green Bay Packers’ Pro Bowler didn’t make the 53-man roster. Instead, the 49ers went with Tartt, Tavon Wilson and Talanoa Hufanga as their options alongside free safety Jimmie Ward.
“Tavon and Ha Ha brought a really cool veteran presence,” Lynch said of Clinton-Dix’s two-week preseason stint with the 49ers. “It’s cool to mix youth like Hufanga with veteran savvy. Both Ha Ha and Tavon provided that through the offseason.
“Ha Ha came in late but showed himself in a great fashion. We’re still in conversations about joining our practice squad and we’ll see where that goes. It was a tough decision but he put his best foot forward. We’re hopeful he joins us again.”
PUNT RETURNER ‘PLAN’
The 49ers cut all their preseason punt returners before the 53-man roster deadline, but Travis Benjamin and River Cracraft returned Wednesday on the practice squad and could be activated for the season opener. Brandon Aiyuk, Mohamed Sanu and Ambry Thomas are options who made the initial 53.
Aiyuk did not practice Wednesday because of last week’s hamstring strain, so it’s unlikely they’d ask him to take on another job come Week 1.
One option no longer available is Nsimba Webster, whom the 49ers cut Tuesday and the Chicago Bears claimed Wednesday.
“We have a plan,” Lynch said. “There’s a number of guys who’ve been working on that during the preseason. We feel quite good about our plan.”
MORE TRANSACTIONS
Defensive lineman Maurice Hurst (ankle) and cornerback Davontae Harris (hamstring) were placed on injured reserve, opening 53-man roster spots for the return of center Jake Brendel and longtime cornerback Dontae Johnson.
Hurst and Harris can be activated after three games. If they’d gone on IR before Tuesday’s 1 p.m. roster deadline, they’d miss the entire season.
Benjamin and Cracraft were among a slew of players returning via the practice squad after missing the 53-man cut Tuesday. Also among them is Jordan Matthews, who will continue his conversion from wide receiver to tight end by doing so on the practice squad.
Quarterback Nate Sudfeld otherwise headlines the 13 players named to the 17-man unit, including an exemption for international player Alfredo Gutierrez, an offensive tackle who was born in Tijuana, Mexico. Also on the practice squad are defensive linemen Alex Barrett and Darrion Daniels, fullback Josh Hokit, offensive linemen Colton McKivitz, Corbin Kaufusi and Senio Kelemete, safety Jared Mayden, and linebacker Elijah Sullivan.
Tight end Tanner Hudson (6-foot-5, 243 pounds) and cornerback Dee Virgin have agreed to terms and must undergo physicals before being signed, Lynch said. Hudson would come via the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he couldn’t climb a depth chart featuring Rob Gronkowski, O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate.