Final shot at roster for bubble players

SAN FRANCISCO — J.T. O’Sullivan has been waived five times in his NFL career. On Saturday, the 49ers’ starting quarterback does not have to look over his shoulder.

Still, as the 49ers and every other team in the NFL must make the mandatory cut Saturday from 75 players to the regular-season roster limit of 53, that uneasy feeling is never far from O’Sullivan’s thoughts.

“It’s terrible,” O’Sullivan said of cutdown day. “It’s really indescribable, as far as I’m concerned. It’s a range of emotions from embarrassing to disappointing. This is always the worst week because the jobs are full. The rosters are full. You’re going home.”

The 49ers play their final exhibition game tonight against the San Diego Chargers. Those who will not be going home will begin immediate preparations for the 49ers’ regular-season opener Sept. 7 against the Arizona Cardinals.

Coach Mike Nolan has experienced the feeling of rejection, too. He went to training camp with the Denver Broncos in 1981 but did not make it in the NFL as a defensive back.

“I did try out. I did get cut,” Nolan said. “There are better things afterward and it may not be in football — sometimes it is. The better our football team gets, some of the guys we let go will still be playing, so it’s not like I’m severing off somebody’s dream.”

This summer, the 49ers have several recognizable players who are on the bubble to make the final roster:

Outside linebacker Tully Banta-Cain. He signed a three-year, $9 million contract last year, but recorded only 3½ sacks in his first season with the 49ers. A sixth-year pro, Banta-Cain has put together a solid training camp. However, he has not made a noticeable climb up the depth chart.

Outside linebacker Jay Moore. He figures to be on the other side of the bubble after spending his rookie season on injured reserve with a high-ankle sprain in the final exhibition game. Moore was a fourth-round draft pick in 2007, but it figures to be difficult for him to win a roster spot this season.

Outside linebacker Roderick Green. The fifth-year pro was among the 49ers’ final cuts last summer. However, when the pass-rush faltered, the club re-signed him for the final seven games of the season. Green is in the same position as Banta-Cain and Moore, as he tries to win a roster spot behind Justin Smith, Manny Lawson, Parys Haralson.

Inside linebacker Larry Grant. He’s the team’s only rookie draft pick who is still fighting for job. Grant, a seventh-round selection, must make his mark on special teams because he is not going to see any action on defense behind the likes of Patrick Willis, Takeo Spikes, Jeff Ulbrich and Dontarrious Thomas.

Cornerback Tarell Brown. He played in nine games as a rookie before sustaining a knee injury in the final game that cut into his preparation time this offseason. Brown was a fifth-round draft pick in 2007 whose stock dropped precipitously after two arrests created concerns about his character. Brown has been a model citizen with the 49ers, though he has experienced difficulty distinguishing himself in a crowded secondary.

Safety Keith Lewis. After starting nine games in 2006, Lewis was relegated to special teams last season. With the breakdowns in the coverage units this preseason, perhaps Lewis’ importance to the team is magnified. He is not scheduled to play in tonight’s game due to an undisclosed illness.

Cornerback Marcus Hudson. A sixth-round pick in 2006, Hudson might be fighting Lewis for the final roster spot. He saw action in 11 games last season as an extra defensive back after playing all 16 games as a rookie.

Receiver Ashley Lelie. His hopes could receive a major boost tonight if he just makes it through the game healthy. The seven-year professional missed almost all of training camp with a calf strain. Lelie is in the final year of a two-year, $4.3 million contract. He caught just 10 passes last season for 115 yards, but Martz likes the thought of Lelie giving the 49ers a vertical threat in the passing game. Isaac Bruce, Bryant Johnson, Arnaz Battle, rookie Josh Morgan and Jason Hill figure to be on the team. Lelie would be the sixth wideout.

Fullback Moran Norris. An eighth-year player, Norris has started 12 games the past two seasons for the 49ers, and played a major role as a blocker in helping Frank Gore rush for 1,695 yards in 2006. But Norris has slipped behind Zak Keasey on the depth chart, and the 49ers are not likely to keep two fullbacks on the roster to stock Mike Martz’s offense.

Fullback Zak Keasey. His play on special teams is likely to push him over the top to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.

Running back Thomas Clayton. He led the NFL in rushing yards during the exhibition season a year ago, and it was not enough to earn a job on the active roster. No matter what he does tonight, it probably won’t be enough, either. Clayton figures to get a lot of playing time, as the 49ers wish to protect Gore, DeShaun Foster and Michael Robinson from the potential of injuries. That should allow Clayton a nice stage from which to show his talents to the rest of the NFL.

You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco at 521-5492 or matt.maiocco@pressdemocrat.com.