NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/6/23
Taxi squad moves heading into the last weekend of the regular season:
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: K Matthew Wright
- Released: LB Justin Hilliard
New York Giants
- Signed: DT Jack Heflin
- Released: DT Vernon Butler
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DT Akeem Spence
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/3/23
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Denver Broncos
- Placed on IR: RB Marlon Mack, G Dalton Risner (story)
- Promoted: CB Ja’Quan McMillian, G William Sherman
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed from practice squad: RB Jake Funk
- Waived: RB Jordan Wilkins
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: DT Akeem Spence
Seattle Seahawks
- Placed on IR: LB Jordyn Brooks (story)
- Signed from practice squad: TE Tyler Mabry
49ers Elevate CB Janoris Jenkins, Place DL Hassan Ridgeway On IR
Janoris Jenkins will be in line to make his 49ers debut Thursday night. Not long after signing with San Francisco’s practice squad, the veteran cornerback is now on their active roster and in position to start his 11th season.
The 49ers made Jenkins one of their gameday elevations ahead of their Week 15 matchup against the Seahawks. The team also elevated Willie Snead and signed defensive tackle Akeem Spence to their 53-man roster. While Snead and Jenkins are gameday elevations, Spence moving up from the practice squad required a roster move. The 49ers placed D-lineman Hassan Ridgeway on IR.
A.k.a. “Jackrabbit,” Jenkins has not played since being a starter in the Titans’ divisional-round game against the Bengals last season. The Titans released the journeyman in March, and not much interest appeared to come Jenkins’ way this offseason. But San Francisco, which has dealt with multiple key injuries at the cornerback spot, added him on a P-squad pact in late November.
At 34, Jenkins is the league’s oldest active corner. He has been a full-time starter for the Rams, Giants, Saints and Titans. The former second-round pick has 27 career interceptions and eight pick-sixes, ranking in a tie for eighth in NFL history in the latter category. After being charged with six touchdowns and a 100.2 passer rating allowed while in coverage last year, Jenkins did not see the Titans follow through with the second year of his two-year contract.
The 49ers have lost Emmanuel Moseley and Jason Verrett for the season and are also down rookie Samuel Womack, who sustained a concussion against the Buccaneers.
Ridgeway suffered a strained pec and is set to miss six to eight weeks. The team had used the former Colts and Eagles defensive tackle as a replacement for Arik Armstead, who has since returned to action. Ridgeway, who made seven starts this season, went down while playing a reserve role in Week 13. The 49ers’ No. 1-ranked defense will be shorthanded at D-tackle. Not only are Ridgeway and Javon Kinlaw out, but starter Kevin Givens is down with an MCL sprain. Givens remains on San Francisco’s active roster but is set to miss time. With the 49ers prioritizing Kinlaw and Elijah Mitchell returns from IR, Ridgeway’s season might be over. Then again, Kinlaw has not returned to practice and cannot be considered a lock to return from IR given his knee trouble. Pro Football Focus ranked Ridgeway just outside the top 60 (out of 125 qualifiers) among interior D-linemen this season.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/2/22
Here are today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DL Eric Banks, OL Rashaad Coward
- Released: OL Sage Doxtater, G Danny Isidora
Houston Texans
- Released: DT Micah Dew-Treadway
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Jordan Wilkins
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: OL Lamont Gaillard
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: QB Brett Hundley
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR Willie Snead, DT Akeem Spence
- Released: WR Malik Turner
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB JoJo Ozougwu, T Justin Skule
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/1/22
A handful of minor moves on a busy deadline day:
Buffalo Bills
- Released: DT Brandin Bryant, WR Isaiah Hodgins
Chicago Bears
- Waived: WR Isaiah Coulter
Denver Broncos
- Waived: RB Devine Ozigbo
Green Bay Packers
- Released: RB Patrick Taylor
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated from IR: CB Trent McDuffie
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on IR: TE Irv Smith Jr.
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: DT Akeem Spence
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: OL Fred Johnson
Free Agency
- Suspended: DT Israel Antwine (six weeks)
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/8/22
Here are the roster moves for today, leading into gameday tomorrow. Reminder that gameday elevations will revert to the practice squad after this weekend’s games:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from IR: CB Antonio Hamilton
- Signed to active roster: WR Andre Baccellia
- Promoted from practice squad: K Matt Ammendola, S Chris Banjo
- Placed on IR: LB Nick Vigil
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted from practice squad: TE MyCole Pruitt
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed to active roster: CB Daryl Worley
- Promoted from practice squad: OLB Brandon Copeland
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on IR: WR Jamison Crowder
- Signed to active roster: WR Isaiah Hodgins, CB Ja’Marcus Ingram
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Tanner Gentry, LB Joe Giles-Harris
- Waived: DT Brandin Bryant
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted from practice squad: S Marquise Blair, WR Derek Wright
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from IR: CB Cam Taylor-Britt
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Tyler Shelvin
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Dakota Allen, WR Chester Rogers
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Carlos Watkins, LS Matt Overton
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: WR Maurice Alexander, CB AJ Parker
- Promoted from practice squad: K Michael Badgley, CB Saivion Smith
- Placed on IR: WR Quintez Cephus
Houston Texans
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Jordan Akins, TE Mason Schreck
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Corey Peters
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Michael Bandy, K Taylor Bertolet
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: S Jordan Fuller, OL Coleman Shelton
- Signed to active roster: RB Malcolm Brown
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Jacob Harris, C Matt Skura
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted from practice squad: T Brandon Shell
- Activated from IR: S Clayton Fejedelem
- Placed on IR: TE Cethan Carter
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed to active roster: S Myles Dorn
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Dan Chisena, TE Nick Muse
- Placed on IR: TE Ben Ellefson
New England Patriots
- Activated from IR: WR Tyquan Thornton
- Promoted from practice squad: QB Garrett Gilbert, TE Matt Sokol
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: CB Bryce Thompson
- Promoted from practice squad: S Chris Harris, WR Keith Kirkwood
- Placed on IR: CB P.J. Williams
- Waived: RB Tony Jones Jr.
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: S Tony Jefferson
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Marcus Johnson, QB Davis Webb
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: T Duane Brown
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Hamsah Nasirildeen
- Placed on IR: OL Max Mitchell
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Andre Chachere, K Cameron Dicker
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed to active roster: OLB Ryan Anderson
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Josh Jackson, S Elijah Riley
- Waived: DE David Anenih
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from IR: S Jimmie Ward
- Signed to active roster: LB Akeem Spence
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Malik Turner, RB Tevin Coleman
- Placed on IR: OL Colton McKivitz
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Cullen Gillaspia, LB Christian Jones
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Kaylon Geiger, WR Deven Thompkins
Washington Commanders
- Activated from IR: OL Tyler Larsen
- Placed on IR: LB Milo Eifler
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/24/22
Lots of moves leading into gameday. Remember that players promoted from the practice squad for games will revert back to the practice squad after:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Andre Baccellia, CB Jace Whittaker
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Frank Darby
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Brandon Copeland, WR Raleigh Webb
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Daviyon Nixon
Chicago Bears
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Joe Thomas
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Keandre Jones
Denver Broncos
- Promoted from practice squad: DL Jonathan Harris, WR Kendall Hinton
Detroit Lions
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Anthony Pittman, T Dan Skipper
Houston Texans
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Jordan Akins, CB Grayland Arnold
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted from practice squad: K Chase McLaughlin
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Dicaprio Bootle, K Matt Ammendola
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Richard Rodgers
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted from practice squad: WR River Cracraft, T Larnel Coleman
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted from practice squad: S Myles Dorn, CB Duke Shelley
New England Patriots
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Harvey Langi
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted from practice squad: DB DaMarcus Fields
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Britain Covey
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Akeem Spence
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Xavier Crawford, LB Christian Jones
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: OLB Wyatt Ray
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Josh Gordon, G Jordan Roos
Washington Commanders
- Promoted from practice squad: DE William Bradley-King, DE Benning Potoa’e
Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC West
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These 49ers, Cardinals, Rams and Seahawks moves are noted below.
Here are Wednesday’s NFC West transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.
Arizona Cardinals
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Andre Baccellia, WR Victor Bolden Jr., OL Rashaad Coward, OL Danny Isidora, DL Manny Jones, WR Jontre Kirklin, LB Jesse Luketa, QB Trace McSorley, TE Bernhard Seikovits (international player), CB Jace Whittaker, DL Antwaun Woods, LB Chandler Wooten
Los Angeles Rams
Signed to practice squad:
- T A.J. Arcuri, T Chandler Brewer, DE Earnest Brown IV, TE Roger Carter Jr.., DB TJ Carter, DE T.J. Carter, DT Elijah Garcia, DB Grant Haley, TE Jacob Harris, DB Dan Isom, G Jeremiah Kolone, TE Jared Pinkney, T Max Pircher (international player), RB Trey Ragas, DE Brayden Thomas, WR Austin Trammell, DE Benton Whitley
San Francisco 49ers
Signed:
- TE Tyler Kroft, DL Jordan Willis
Claimed:
- OL Blake Hance (from Browns)
Placed on IR:
- LB Curtis Robinson, DB Jimmie Ward
Released from IR:
Signed to practice squad:
- DL Alex Barrett, S Tashaun Gipson, OL Alfredo Gutierrez, S Tayler Hawkins, CB Qwuantrezz Knight, WR Tay Martin, LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball, OL Jason Poe, WR Willie Snead, DL Akeem Spence, OL Keaton Sutherland, DL Kemoko Turay, WR Malik Turner
Seattle Seahawks
Signed:
Claimed:
- DB Isaiah Dunn (from Jets), DE Daryl Johnson (from Panthers)
Waived:
- LB Joshua Onujiogu
Placed on IR:
- DE L.J. Collier, CB John Reid
Reverted to IR:
- RB Josh Johnson
Signed to practice squad:
- WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside, LB Aaron Donkor (international playear), T Greg Eiland, WR Cade Johnson, LB Vi Jones, TE Tyler Mabry, QB Sean Mannion (story), WR Bo Melton, CB Quandre Mosely, LB Tanner Muse, S Scott Nelson, T Liam Ryan, RB Darwin Thompson
49ers Set 53-Man Roster, Plan To Place S Jimmie Ward On IR
The 49ers’ 53-man roster is set, with a couple of exceptions. Multiple players included among Tuesday’s cuts will be back with the team. Some will also stick around via the practice squad. Here is how San Francisco reached the 53-man limit:
Released:
- TE Troy Fumagalli
- S Tashaun Gipson (story)
- CB Dontae Johnson
- WR Marcus Johnson
- TE Tyler Kroft
- OL Jordan Mills
- WR Willie Snead
- DL Akeem Spence
- QB Nate Sudfeld
- DL Kemoko Turay (story)
- WR Malik Turner
- DL Jordan Willis
Waived:
- DL Kevin Atkins
- DL Alex Barrett
- CB Tariq Castro-Fields
- OL Alfredo Gutierrez
- RB JaMycal Hasty
- S Tayler Hawkins
- CB Qwuantrezz Knight
- WR Tay Martin
- LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball
- LB Segun Olubi
- OL Jason Poe
- OL Justin Skule
- OL Keaton Sutherland
Kroft and Willis will be on the 53-man roster soon, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, who notes (via Twitter) the two have agreed to re-sign with the 49ers. Each is a vested veteran, allowing them to skip the waiver process. A Bengals draftee, Kroft spent two seasons in Buffalo and was with the Jets in 2021. A rotational D-lineman, Willis has been with the 49ers since 2020.
These two will take the roster spots of Jimmie Ward and linebacker Curtis Robinson, who will each be placed on IR. By waiting until Wednesday to move each to IR, the 49ers will ensure Ward and Robinson can play in 2022. Ward suffered what appears to be a significant hamstring injury and will miss at least the first four games this season.
Hasty has resided as a fill-in back for the 49ers over the past two seasons; they have needed him in each. The team currently rosters Elijah Mitchell, Jeff Wilson, Trey Sermon and rookie Tyrion Davis-Price at running back. Snead and Turner signed with the 49ers this offseason; each has practice squad eligibility. Teams can carry up to six vested veterans on their 16-man taxi squads. Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy beat out Sudfeld for the 49ers’ No. 3 QB job. Offset language exists in Sudfeld’s deal, Maiocco tweets, allowing the 49ers to potentially be off the hook for the $2MM they guaranteed him.
Kyle Shanahan confirmed Tuesday that Jimmy Garoppolo — back after taking a pay cut — will be Trey Lance‘s top backup. While this would have been quite the gamble, Shanahan said Purdy would have been Lance’s backup had Garoppolo not accepted the pay cut (Twitter link via Maiocco).
49ers Sign DT Akeem Spence, Place DT Maurice Hurst On IR
San Francisco brought in some veteran depth at defensive tackle today, signing Akeem Spence to a one-year deal, according to the team’s press release this morning. Spence is set to join his ninth team after as many years in the league. 
Spence has become a bit of a journeyman over the last couple of years. After playing out his rookie contract in Tampa Bay, Spence has bounced around every year since. Spence signed a three-year contact with the Lions to leave the Buccaneers but was traded after one year to the Dolphins. Miami released him before he could play out the last year of his second contract. The 2019 season saw Spence play games for both the Eagles and Jaguars. He joined the Patriots in the middle of the 2020 season and played one game for Washington last year. After being released by Washington, Spence ended the season on Denver’s practice squad.
The 49ers don’t necessarily need Spence to return to the form he once held when he was starting games for the Buccaneers, Lions, and Dolphins, but having that veteran experience behind starters Javon Kinlaw and Arik Armstead is comforting. The addition is likely also a reaction to the season-ending injury of Maurice Hurst. San Francisco officially made the move today, assigning Hurst to injured reserve.