4 49ers rookies change jersey numbers after final cuts

As the dust settled on the recent changes, four San Francisco 49ers rookies changed their jersey numbers.

According to Matt Barrows of The Athletic, cornerback Renardo Green, safety Malik Mustapha, wide receiver Jacob Cowing and running back Isaac Guerendo all made changes to their numbers ahead of the team’s bonus practice on Tuesday.

Green, who wore No. 31 during the preseason, changed his number to 0. That jersey was previously worn by CB Samuel Womack, who was released in final cuts. The Indianapolis Colts acquired him off waivers.

This jersey number has only been worn by Womack in 49ers history. He began wearing it last season when the NFL changed its rules regarding jersey numbers.

Mustapha wore No. 43 during the preseason, the traditional safety number. He will now wear No. 6 during the regular season. He joins Deommodore Lenoir and Charvarius Ward as players wearing single-digit numbers on the 49ers’ defense. Safeties Talanoa Hufanga and Ji’Ayir Brown wear Nos. 29 and 27, respectively.

Cowing was another player who wore the traditional number for his position in camp. His preseason number was 83. He will now wear No. 19, which was last worn by WR Deebo Samuel. Samuel switched to No. 1 this offseason.

During camp, veteran WR Trent Taylor wore jersey number 19. He was released and then re-signed to the practice squad. His new number is 81, as he did not keep his jersey number after camp due to being released.

Perhaps the most noticeable change is Guerendo, who wore No. 49 in the preseason. That’s an objectively awful number for a running back. Now he wears No. 31 — still not a great number, but better than 49.

Green and RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn were both No. 31 in camp. Vaughn was released and re-signed to the practice squad. Green, of course, gave up No. 31 to take No. 0.

We could see a lot of these jerseys on the field during the season opener on September 9. Green could play cornerback, while Guerendo and Cowing could start as special teams returners.

The rest of the rookie class will apparently keep their numbers. First-round pick Ricky Pearsall is No. 14, third-round pick Dominick Puni is No. 77 and seventh-round pick Tatum Bethune will remain at No. 48.