Not much has changed since last week as the 49ers face impending roster cuts. With so much depth, the most high-profile position battle left seems to be at the No. 3 QB spot.
Stock rising: Colin Kaepernick entered the year in a battle for the backup QB job, but has since distanced himself from Josh Johnson and Scott Tolzien.
Stock falling: The team drafted OLB Cam Johnson in the seventh round, but Johnson's inability to stay healthy has prevented him from showcasing his potential.
QB -- In: (3) Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick, Scott Tolzien. Out: Josh Johnson. Analysis: The No. 3 QB job is really too close to call. Tolzien looked awfully good in the first preseason game against the Vikings, while Johnson outperformed him against the Texans. This could
be one of the most difficult tasks the coaching staff has to make.
RB -- In: (5) Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter, Brandon Jacobs, LaMichael James, Rock Cartwright. Out: Anthony Dixon. Analysis: Coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed Thursday that Jacobs has shown enough to earn a roster spot despite the injury he suffered against the Texans. That's bad news for Dixon, who likely needed an injury to keep him in the
team's plans.
FB -- In: (1) Bruce Miller. Out: Anthony Dixon, Cameron Bell. Analysis: Dixon also has worked out at fullback, but it's probably too little too late. Miller has improved significantly in his second year at the position.
WR -- In: (6) Randy Moss, Michael Crabtree, Mario Manningham, Ted Ginn Jr., Kyle Williams, A.J. Jenkins. Out: Brett Swain, Brian Tyms, Ben Hannula, Joe Hastings, Nathan Palmer, Chris Owusu. Analysis: There is a clear top-five and then there is A.J. Jenkins. Jenkins, a first-round pick, will be on the roster, but might not dress on Sundays.
TE -- In: (3) Vernon Davis, Delanie Walker, Demarcus Dobbs. Out: Konrad Reuland, Kyle Nelson, Joe Sawyer. Analysis: The team waived Nate Byham last week, which was good news for Konrad Reuland. He's on the roster bubble, but deepening on how many players the team decides to keep at each position, he could end up on the team.
OL -- In: (9) Joe Staley, Mike Iupati, Jonathan Goodwin, Alex Boone, Anthony Davis, Leonard Davis, Joe Looney, Daniel Kilgore, Jason Slowey. Out: Mike Person, Kenny Wiggins, Al Netter, Chase Beeler, Derek Hall. Analysis: After the top seven, it's unclear who the primary candidates are. Beeler sits in front of Slowey on the depth chart, but the former AP All-American at Stanford was undrafted, unlike Slowey, who the team selected out of Division-II Western Oregon in the sixth round.
DL -- In: (6): Ray McDonald, Isaac Sopoaga, Justin Smith, Rickey Jean Francois, Ian Williams, Will Tukuafu. Out: Tony Jerod-Eddie, Patrick Butrym, Matt Masifilo. Analysis: Demarcus Dobbs also factors in here, but was included in this breakdown at TE. Smith plays nearly every snap on defense, so that leaves six players to rotate two spots within the team's 3-4 defense.
LB -- In: (8): Ahmad Brooks, NaVorro Bowman, Patrick Willis, Aldon Smith, Parys Haralson, Larry Grant, Tavares Gooden, Eric Bakhtiari. Out: Joe Holland, Cam Johnson, Michael Wilhoite, Kourtnei Brown, Kenny Rowe, Ikaika Alama-Francis. Analysis: Bakhtiari seems to be improving his roster chances with each passing day. With Smith and Brooks out against the Texans, he played the entire preseason game at OLB. The audition went well enough to keep him on the projected 53-man roster.
DB -- In: (9) Carlos Rogers, Tarell Brown, Dashon Goldson, Donte Whitner, Chris Culliver, Perrish Cox, Trenton Robinson, C.J. Spillman, Colin Jones. Out: Tramaine Brock, Cory Nelms, Darcel McBath, Anthony Mosley, Michael Thomas, Deante' Purvis. Analysis: The depth chart behind Goldson and Whitner might be the most fluid of any positions on the team. No one in the group of Spillman, Robinson, Nelms, McBath, Jones and Thomas has really separated himself from the pack.
Specialists -- In: (3) K David Akers, P Andy Lee, LS Brian Jennings. Out: Giorgio Tavecchio. Analysis: All three Pro Bowl players will be back.
Follow 49ers reporter Kyle Bonagura on Twitter: @CBSSportsNFLSF and @KyleBonagura.