Parker HurleyAug 24, 2026
Reviewing 49ers rookies after the second preseason game, Hurley projects Kaelon Black as the backup running back, Carver Willis as a Week 1 starter on the offensive line, Ephesians Prysock behind Renardo Green, Jaden Dugger as Fred Warner's backup, and pegs Bryson Eason and Jalen Stroman as practice squad candidates.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Parker Hurley said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromHe should start in Week 1.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- 49ers Rookie Stock Watch After 2 Preseason Games
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Bryson Eason to land on the practice squad“Eason is a prime practice squad candidate.”
- 2Jaden Dugger to be 2nd on the depth chart“He has looked great in 62 snaps as the backup to Fred Warner.”
- 3Carver Willis to be 1st on the depth chart“Willis is the one who protected Brock Purdy when the starters played in the preseason. He should start in Week 1.”
- 4Ephesians Prysock to be 2nd on the depth chart“A year on the bench behind Renardo Green could help.”
- 5Kaelon Black to be 2nd on the depth chart“Jordan James is back at practice, but Black should be the backup.”
- 6Jalen Stroman to land on the practice squad“Stroman has practice squad hopes.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryson Eason to land on the practice squad1 | Roster Spot Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Jaden Dugger to be 2nd on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Carver Willis to be 1st on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Ephesians Prysock to be 2nd on the depth chart4 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Kaelon Black to be 2nd on the depth chart5 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Jalen Stroman to land on the practice squad6 | Roster Spot Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 6 calls · 6 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
6 checkable claims — 4 depth chart calls and 2 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 7 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 4 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 3.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Where this call stands in the room
Kaelon Black · 2026 season15 calls from 7 pundits between 2 and 2. Parker Hurley said 2. the room's median is 2. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
1Roster Spot CallsBryson EasonSan Francisco 49ers
Bryson Eason to land on the practice squad
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Depth Chart CallsJaden DuggerSan Francisco 49ers
Jaden Dugger to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsCarver WillisSan Francisco 49ers
Carver Willis to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Depth Chart CallsEphesians PrysockSan Francisco 49ers
Ephesians Prysock to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
5Depth Chart CallsKaelon BlackSan Francisco 49ers
Kaelon Black to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
6Roster Spot CallsJalen StromanSan Francisco 49ers
Jalen Stroman to land on the practice squad
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
AJ Hawk · Game Outcome Picks · San Francisco 49ers · Hit 100
Hawk said the Chiefs would beat the Jets, the Seahawks would beat the Cardinals, and the 49ers would beat the Raiders, even while taking the points with the underdogs in each case.Connor Rogers · Game Outcome Picks · San Francisco 49ers · Hit 100
Rogers picked straight-up winners in every Week 9 game, agreeing with Simms on all of them, and gave a 24-20 Bills score over the Vikings on Monday night.Chris Simms · Score Predictions · San Francisco 49ers · Hit 93
Simms gave a predicted final score for every Week 9 game, picking the Bengals, Chiefs, Broncos, Lions, Giants, Rams, Cowboys, Saints, 49ers, Patriots, Seahawks, Texans, Bears and Bills, and also said they wouldn't be shocked to see Jacksonville reach the AFC Championship Game.Big Cat · Game Outcome Picks · San Francisco 49ers · Hit 100
Big Cat picked the Bengals to beat the Falcons in Madrid, the 49ers to handle the Raiders, the Seahawks to bounce back against the Cardinals, and the Bears to beat the Buccaneers by a projected 26-23.Nate Tice · Game Outcome Picks · San Francisco 49ers · Hit 100
Tice picked the Patriots to beat the Packers and also took the Bears, Bills, 49ers and Broncos in their Week 9 matchups.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.Nic Bodiford · Depth Chart Calls · Joe Fagnano · Hit 100
Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward.