The San Francisco 49ers’ preseason game against the Denver Broncos on Saturday allowed a multitude of players to help their cases for making the 53-man roster, and none may have been more done so more than Chase Lucas.
As a former seventh-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, Lucas has struggled to find consistent playing time.
After spending the 2024 season on the 49ers’ practice squad and not seeing any game action, the cornerback is looking to earn a role in San Francisco’s depth chart.
Lucas spent the entirety of Saturday’s preseason game at nickel, making some plays that definitely turned the heads of the 49ers' coaching staff and front office.
Utilizing his 4.48 40-yard dash speed, Lucas came on multiple blitzes, generating pressure and even forcing Bo Nix into an intentional grounding from the endzone, resulting in a safety.
“It was fun to watch [Lucas on Saturday],” Shanahan said. “He flew around… He’s kind of our Energizer Bunny… He’s had a hell of a camp, and I thought he did a hell of a job [on Saturday].”
Success as a blitzer is a good skill to have as a nickel, but more important is a player’s ability to cover. Lucas showcased his coverage prowess as well on Saturday, jumping up for a pass deflection over Troy Franklin.
Chase Lucas had a day‼️ pic.twitter.com/HJPm62hkZN
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) August 10, 2025
Lucas also showed his willingness to help out in the run game from the slot, filling run gaps and earning eight total tackles.
The 28-year-old also showed off his athleticism in 2024, playing both corner and wide receiver for the scout team on the 49ers’ practice squad.
San Francisco signed Lucas to a one-year, $1,030,000 contract this offseason, and seems to intend to give the defensive back a real shot to prove himself
With other nickel Upton Stout currently dealing with a calf injury, the opportunity is there for Lucas to cement himself on the 53-man roster.