# 3 position battles to watch in the 49ers preseason finale: The second safety spot remains up for grabs

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-08-27 01:07 UTC · Category: Sports

## Executive Summary
The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams face critical roster decisions as preseason concludes, with high-stakes battles at safety and quarterback.

## Intelligence Brief
The San Francisco 49ers are entering their preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders with several roster vacancies still undecided. According to Niners Nation, one of the primary points of contention is the second safety spot, which remains up for grabs. This game serves as a critical opportunity for players fighting for jobs on the final roster, a sentiment echoed by The Mercury News. Additionally, Niners Wire and Yahoo Sports have identified six potential starters who could see playing time during this final preseason matchup against the Raiders. Coverage from Yahoo Sports, Niners Nation, and USA Today emphasizes the logistical and competitive stakes of the Raiders vs. 49ers game, including broadcast schedules and live stream availability.


Meanwhile, separate reports from Yahoo Sports and ProFootballRumors.com focus on the Los Angeles Rams, where head coach Sean McVay has left the backup quarterback battle wide open. Yahoo Sports reports that rookie Ty Simpson is making a strong case for a larger role, describing Simpson's current performance as a gamble that is working. Context for these developments involves the pressure of the NFL's final roster cuts. For the 49ers, the battle for the second safety position is a key priority for the coaching staff heading into the game against Las Vegas. For the Rams, the competition for the QB2 role is particularly acute.


While ProFootballRumors.com suggests that Stetson Bennett is expected to be named the second-string quarterback, Ramblin' Fan notes that Bennett's absence during a game against the Chargers could indicate complexities beyond the typical QB2 race. Moving forward, observers will watch for the final designations of the 49ers' secondary after the game against the Raiders. Regarding the Rams, the focus remains on whether Sean McVay maintains his undecided status on the QB2 position or if the performance of Ty Simpson earns the rookie a more prominent role over Stetson Bennett. The outcomes of these preseason evaluations will determine the depth charts for both West Coast teams as they transition into the regular season.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Yahoo Sports | Sean McVay Leaves Rams Backup QB Battle Wide Open After Preseason | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihAFBVV95cUxQYUt1V2ZOQUZPQlFLRjhQWkZGMDNiajdSeFZ0UVA5UllmYWZmeVo2cjhtekhEb1ZHeE5WYWlkR21abncxd2piS0dBbzR5NGZMa1RLNDI0RUFWUlNoMC1VVW1XVE5pSVptME11RVhoczBKX0dOZDdGV3ZQeUNUNWdDaGNHOGc?oc=5) |
| NFL Rumors - ProFootballRumors.com | Rams’ Stetson Bennett Expected Be Named QB2 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikAFBVV95cUxQelMzbm10SWFOTlVqTndfVzI1MkpxOGJsYWxVWlRNdGdPUGVlMW83b3JCQmppb1FSdVF2OEI3MnhTNDRKZUFxTEdoM3YzVFhUR2VCRFR6VU1JeXVTU3Y1RllNek5OMk91d0o1bFJOcHI4aFZTNFd6M0x5THplQXN3ZGdmMHJMZUI0cEk1bmlSZi0?oc=5) |
| Ramblin' Fan | Stetson Bennett's absence vs Chargers could hint at more than Rams' QB2 race | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihwFBVV95cUxNdE14VWdrTm9tOEtHWDNvUTk3ZHRJWUJKcXdkTnpBenlTR1haUkxzMm1OWmxwd0RxR3JVak9vS1JqX2o4OF9CM3YyZ05tVXk0dF9sVk9ia0sxQk5LcS1qSm9CemxlZ0tMbVQxckNHc1Raa3VVa0xrQ0hUeW81RUxfSF9jZUhkLVE?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | The Rams' Bold Ty Simpson Gamble Is Working | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiggFBVV95cUxOcWVxQWFPWVh0cTlLODc1TjJKRTlHZ2k4VW8wMWJ1aTFQVWZzc19lWDNMdm9MSXFUNTF5WktoRDdfaVdwemI4MFRKOGIweUwyQTR4bmtEcDJFakh5em9RWmhxZW9CaUk3LVpZMEVWWUtpdFFzWV9oNlRwVktCYURxcUtB?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Rams QB rookie Ty Simpson is making a strong case for a bigger role | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMif0FVX3lxTFBESFpGZ0JGU0tDVDI5T3lYU2diUS1GcEZSd2UxSXhJM1hlVm9hQmZpVEVOaVcyYVJSajBvUTBUSV9rdnRrdFFoYVJEZkc0d0FRcDdYV0hzWXNaXzZ3S09HWmlnN3NPanQ4QVJ3c0Q0dEFzaGRpLV8zZEdzWmFEM0k?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Rams' Sean McVay Undecided on QB2 as Ty Simpson Shines Again | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihAFBVV95cUxNM2ZTQkVyZkNEcDhDXzJ1TWlRVDU4NG1mRE5XS215WHdNMmhDV3RBeGw4YkpYUC1CVTVQTTZCbXNPZEpXUzVsenlQTUJ3SERhSmIxR1c2UEx1NUNZZTRoV29KdEktWHNJMHNWUXF5OTFhMkhwRUtlTURNMllXQWd1V1hFZWk?oc=5) |
| Niners Wire | 6 potential starters who could play for 49ers in preseason finale | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixwFBVV95cUxNQmNrX2FjTXdCSURBNkFzR3g5Z0Z1ZXNiZWhJU0ZDaU9KN3habFBJcFEyb1UzZjcxRnNDRUM5TmtMWDV0MEJZeDY2cjNUaXBRb3BoUkdKTGdROV9jUW9UeTZ1dXpxY1dxeEhHd2dza2hMem5PU1VIUjdUZlVyTDJGaUtpeFpta2pGNlh3UW1nLTNzb0xnYmh5ZjRzSHpHOVZZLWtIeklOUFVhY1RhaUswZXE5ZGp4LWpDWVM2SnhaUXI5OVAxV2Uw?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | 6 potential starters who could play for 49ers in preseason finale | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihwFBVV95cUxPd0ZfUWtlVlU5RnFVRm1nMGt3SEZhY2R3SWJRTFRsenRJamNZb0Q0TjN2SUlPMVgxWkRhelpnQjRDMFZrNG5ueXNDb3hMZXFmcUlFMXNhMndIQ2VCY1V6b3M2MHZsZWlRSTdCRUZPZFkxNzNRbTV1eThJb2JOaG1VOHlyaGdwWDQ?oc=5) |
| Niners Nation | 49ers News: The San Francisco 49ers take on the Las Vegas Raiders today | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi7AJBVV95cUxOWGUwME5HZVlMWi1nbTRJaWFnNnVxT1FDN1pFR0Y3bkxxMTljQ01hRHVOTDJRY2JTOE1KeTk4VTZ1WTdpNWZUTU91aS1WUXRDRUVSdGtqME9OVkVsR0VtWk1pWHctbG9wbk8tTDE4YkJ2Y0hDb0tiMDBscnJrMHhMQjdCZWQzSE1GV1F0VUk0SFFGMlI2eHVaaXNMZjlGTmFSUHFoLXJQbWhWbTRqQkxmYkpzbGt3RENyN2VKTi1RSGFCMVpKVEdyZmFaR0l4N2R0aTZkMWI2UHFvY1hnSW1yaXRSdzJ0OVlHMk1ndGx2bzBLQ2tjU09mNFZiWk5tcXdnZl8tM29hQW13UExsWE9rTENuS1hxa3YtSHFhekFQVk84Q1oxQlZUdVRjSTlTUlhfdkEtQUpCdUZ2T05ZTU1JbW1aa1R3bWtfQ1ZqdUg4Y1MyWk9BTml) |
| Yahoo Sports | 49ers’ final preseason game will reveal much — even without playing starters | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiigFBVV95cUxQX2VfemNhTUlTVm5SREhQbkkwWDJOVlhJZHd0bjBsaGl4empSQnM2bDVMSThzMWlDQWVHdGpIRjV4WWNkXzkwVXZiZG1kdU9lUktpMVZCN3cwM1Qya1FtZ0J6ZUtma2o3b2Z3YURnbWctMk5HVTdRWlpTZEdic2ZFSmxSVnZpTVpmMlE?oc=5) |
| USA Today | Raiders vs. 49ers NFL preseason game TV channel, time, live stream | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivwFBVV95cUxQSlQyWUxieTIzM1IwdFVzSDkwS3hYZUNYRnlzMERiREhDQm9DeFU3aWpkcWl0bHNKWW9lR3JtY2xiZEN2aS1sNUxYSndVZ1VSTElUd21BMThXWG53UWR1UDdXdm96MVVfMUl3eVdLd2ZPc05yRFJIMk0yeG9rUnhQbWVvczYxZFpyeHItM0FtQzBHNHJuQlpVWVdvTW5INHduODBFRm5CVFVKQnpBclJ4ODFwYzRCWXBZTlE4alRuaw?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | 49ers News: The San Francisco 49ers take on the Las Vegas Raiders today | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihgFBVV95cUxNbmpNakZXQXNNeU14NHRyNEJ6OFdpR3lMZHhkdl82WXd2TV9PQm14Y1NQWTVST0dTNEhSbnRjUjZDN0hMTGpZZFNZSThJSnlOa201aUpSTWNsTkdhS0V4aHFZOWxaZkJoTHZlZWlwMTFLeWN4TlltVTlfSWtkbk1mNnBnQ0otZw?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | What channel is Raiders vs. 49ers on today? Time, TV schedule, live stream to watch NFL Week 3 preseason game | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihgFBVV95cUxOUS1Uc2ZWcUhFZmNaQ2dpeVh0WFN5N29ZYTU5dGN2M2tkb0tVSGZldTY4V3RmbGE4b3N5cWVXZVRBVFZEOE9Nd3lfVV9XOURVaWFXR3dQRnFpU29YRVhfcXhJbi1PQkx2ZzhRbDlhanhqSTBlRkVucFF4MHpxRGs0SXN4R2JFQQ?oc=5) |
| Covers.com | 49ers vs Raiders Prediction, Picks & Odds for Thursday's NFL Preseason Game | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikwFBVV95cUxPRDlpbjhHZ21RT0owRUpJYmloTzA5QXlWa1NWeERtZG5hVVF4VmVZVGFQbFFHcVQ1d0NBX09tZS14ckhyOGdXZkdid2VDa2lYekhiczJIaDNORTA0NkFRYVlPdzMtb1JsQ0hkZ2NhaXBwWU04Q1lGOGJrQmtIeTRfX08tcGNYZnRGbXQydXpwTVpvVVU?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | 49ers vs Raiders Prediction, Picks & Odds for Thursday's NFL Preseason Game | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiigFBVV95cUxNdjVXeE9qUUpyUnZIM2FnXzFZRmZ5YnBDaHpCYXNmb3o0U3VGbmlDZHlaRU80ajNxUGpkZ0ZaXzhSMnRRUjRHdFlDc1V4blV0QVlpSnhvSzdMWnNnM3gtU01Pb1UyMVZWOWpocEc1UnpiMnBZRHRORGl0ckYyWWE4RTF3N0F3VWlQeFE?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-08-27/3-position-battles-to-watch-in-the-49ers-preseason-finale-the-second-safety*