Joe Williams

The 49ers took a step toward their 53-man roster when they released the Utah product Friday.

Already a bubble player to make the 53-man roster, running back Joe Williams suffered a fractured rib Saturday, effectively ending his preseason.

The 49ers added running back depth Monday after Jerick McKinnon and Matt Breida recently suffered injuries.

Like many 49ers fans, Robert Saleh is anxious to see how the much-maligned San Francisco pass rush improves in his second year as defensive coordinator.

The second-year running back admits he was entitled as a rookie. A candid conversation with Kyle Shanahan, followed by a productive summer, has Williams on the right track.

The 49ers will welcome the Dallas Cowboys to Levi’s Stadium in their preseason opener Thursday night.

Jerick McKinnon, Matt Breida, and Joe Williams all had fantastic practices during the first padded session of the year.

After a scalding finish to the 2017 season, and a productive offseason, the 49ers starters are mostly implanted into their roles, but there are several position battles to monitor throughout training camp.

This spring, the San Francisco 49ers had visions of an offense that featured Joe Williams in the backfield and Jeremy Kerley in the slot.

Though SAM linebacker Eli Harold was the only member of the 49ers’ starting 22 who appeared against Los Angeles, plenty of players, including C.J. Beathard, used the last preseason outing to make their closing statements in their bid to make San Francisco’s 53-man roster.