Even With Good Game, Busta Anderson May Not Make Roster

Niners may try to keep rookie tight end from South Carolina on the practice squad

Busta Anderson came into training camp with the numbers against him.

If the seventh-round draft choice from South Carolina were going to make the 49ers’ opening-day roster, he was going to have to fight his way through a crowded group of tight ends that included starter Vernon Davis, Vance McDonald, Garrett Celek, Asante Cleveland, Derek Carrier, Xavier Grimble and fourth-round pick Blake Bell.

Now, after training camp and four exhibition games, Anderson’s status is still in doubt. But the rookie had a nice game against the Chargers Thursday night to at least make one final statement that he might be worth keeping (even if it’s on the practice squad).

After catching just two passes in the first three games, Anderson had two catches against the Chargers for 18 yards, including a nice, leaping 16-yard grab over a defender for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of San Francisco’s 14-12 victory.

Anderson finished the preseason with four receptions for 50 yards, including a play of 29 yards.

But will that be enough to make the roster when the 49ers have to get down to the 53-man limit by 1 p.m. Saturday?

The 49ers cleared some room with their trade of Cleveland recently, but Davis, McDonald and Bell appear to be locks, and both Celek and Carrier both appear to have done nothing to hurt their stock this summer – so one of them will likely be released or traded. That could still leave Anderson without a job.

Still, the 49ers might try to sneak him onto the practice squad – if other NFL teams don’t take a gamble on him.

It seems Anderson has showed enough potential for the 49ers to believe he might blossom into a much better candidate to make the roster next season. After all, Anderson – who battled injury problems in college – has good size at 6-foot-5 and averaged a nice 15.6 yards per catch on his 61 receptions for the Gamecocks.

Thursday night, Anderson lived up to assessments that he can make plays. Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com, who covers the 49ers, noted this spring that Anderson is “ultra athletic and quick,” and could give the team a good, backup receiving option.

But at this point, Anderson still looks like a long shot to make the roster.

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