The San Francisco 49ers opened Week 1 by listing six rookie-contract players inactive against the Rams, a first-season decision that immediately shaped the roster picture for the Rams Qb matchup. QB Kurtis Rourke, CB Ephesians Prysock, RB Jordan James, WR Jordan Watkins, LB Tatum Bethune and OT Enrique Cruz were all held out.
That group matters because the 49ers are going into the game with only two running backs active, a setup that points to a larger role for Deebo Samuel out of the backfield. Kyle Shanahan said this past offseason that he regretted not involving more running backs last season, and this is the clearest sign that he is trying to adjust that balance now.
The inactive list also tells you something about how the team is choosing to start the year. The 49ers leaned toward veterans for the opener, and the rookies on the inactive list were not drafted to contribute in 2026. That is why Bethune’s name carries a mild upset even though the broader outcome is not a surprise: he was one of the rookies most closely linked to special teams work, yet Brant Boyer preferred a different body type on certain units.
The first injury report of the season had nine players limited, but the inactive list made the final call on availability. For Bethune, that means the immediate question is less about whether he belongs in the long term than about when the 49ers decide his role fits what they need on game day. For tonight, the answer is that the opener belongs to the veterans and to a backfield plan that will ask Samuel to do more with less behind him.
