San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said Tuesday that Jonathan Goodwin will start the team's final preseason game at center instead of Adam Snyder, who started the first three preseason contests.
"Like I said before, I really do believe we have seven starters on our offensive line," Harbaugh told the Sacramento Bee. "We're going to look at combinations, find out what the best one is as we move forward."
Cornerback Tarell Brown is expected to start his second consecutive game Thursday when the 49ers visit San Diego. Fellow cornerback Shawntae Spencer (hamstring) said he doesn't expect to play Thursday. That likely means Brown will start the regular-season opener Sept. 11 against Seattle.
The 49ers reduced their roster to 80 players by cutting seven, including linebacker Scott McKillop, a 2009 fifth-round pick who suffered a severe knee injury last year in training camp. Also released were wide receivers Kevin Jurovich and Tyler Beiler, guards Donovan Edwards and Nick Howell, running back Seth Smith and kicker Sam Paulescu.
For the second consecutive day, wide receiver Michael Crabtree was active at the start of practice, although he hasn't been medically cleared for a full practice and is unlikely to play Thursday. Crabtree was still on the Physically Unable to Perform list when he practiced briefly with the quarterbacks Monday.
Harbaugh, however, bristled at the suggestion the team had bent the rules.
"There's absolutely no malice by the team to try to break any rules or steal practice reps for Michael Crabtree," he said. "I mean, did he or did he not practice? I can answer that question: He did not practice. That was obvious. I mean, reports that he ran five-yard routes. He didn't run any routes. He was walking around. He played catch."
