Jake

Brendel

The 49ers also ruled out EDGE Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring) and C Jake Brendel (hamstring), while labeling DT Jordan Elliott (ankle/personal matter), LB Dee Winters (knee), DL Sam Okuayinonu (ankle), OG Ben Bartch (ankle) and OL Spencer Burford (knee) questionable for Week 9. The 49ers’ defense is officially one to target for fantasy purposes and their poor health should also reinforce the offense’s passing volume.

We do not yet know Purdy’s Friday participation level, but he remained limited through Wednesday and Thursday, and we assume Friday was no different. The 49ers are seemingly set on keeping their franchise quarterback protected from re-injury for as long as possible. Mac Jones will start again in his stead, and can be treated as a borderline QB1/2 against the Texans. The 49ers also ruled out C Jake Brendel (hamstring), EDGE Bryce Huff (hamstring) and EDGE Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring).

The 2022’s season was Brendel’s first as a full-time starter and he put together a solid year. Brendel allowed just one sack and 12 pressures on 591 pass-blocking reps according to Pro Football Focus. PFF had him ranked as their No. 20 center on the year. After losing Mike McGlinchey at right tackle, bringing Brendel back helps the 49ers keep the bulk of their starters in place, even if he isn’t expected to rank at the top of his position in 2023.

Alex Mack’s abrupt retirement and the lack of salary cap space the 49ers have as they ride out the Jimmy Garoppolo situation has left the 49ers without much recourse to seek other options so far. Daniel Brunskill was also thrown out as a possibility for the position earlier in the offseason, but appears to be set at right guard for now. It remains a situation in flux and could be a landing spot for an older free agent like J.C. Tretter as we get closer to the season. Brendel has 250 career NFL offensive snaps to his name as a UDFA from the 2016 class.

Brendel, 29, appeared in 16 games last season, but seemingly all of that work came on 70 special teams snaps and just six on offense. He was scheduled to hit free agency next week but will be back to compete for a deep reserve role.

Raheem Mostert, Trey Sermon, and Elijah Mitchell are San Francisco’s top-three running backs, at least until Jeff Wilson returns. The 49ers also waived/released DL Alex Barrett, WR River Cracraft, DL Darrion Daniels, OL Alfredo Gutierrez, LB Justin Hilliard, FB Josh Hokit, OL Corbin Kaufusi, S Jared Mayden, OL Colton McKivitz, CB Alexander Myres, OL Dakoda Shepley, LB Elijah Sullivan, WR Nsimba Webster, WR Travis Benjamin, OL Jake Brendel, S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, CB Dontae Johnson, OL Senio Kelemete, TE Jordan Matthews, TE MyCole Pruitt, QB Nate Sudfeld, and DL Eddie Yarbrough.

The 27-year-old has made just four appearances since the end of the 2017 season. This will come close to putting his career on ice.

Brendel has played 21 games since entering the league in 2016. The former undrafted free agent was last seen on the field with the Dolphins in 2018 before spending portions of the 2019 season with the Broncos and Ravens.

Brendel (6'4/303) became a starter the moment he arrived at UCLA, going on to make 52 consecutive starts and earning second-team All-Pac 12 as a senior. Brendel’s smallish hands (8 1/4") and arms (31") are concerns for his NFL transition, as are his limitations as a space blocker and shortage of strength. Brendel is a battler in the trenches, but he lacks starter-caliber tools and won’t be much of an option at guard. His pro career is likely to be brief.