Jakob Robinson

49ers Cut 25 Players, Set 53-Man Roster

The 49ers had some work to do to get down to their initial 53-man roster. The front office achieved that daunting task this afternoon, as the organization announced the following moves:

Released:

Waived:

Activated from active/PUP:

Placed on reserve/PUP:

Placed on reserve/NFI:

Placed on reserve/suspended:

Placed on IR (designated for return):

Placed on IR:

Punter Thomas Morstead was cut today, but it sounds like the veteran won’t be a free agent for long. Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports that Morstead is expected to re-sign with the organization. The 39-year-old spent the past two seasons with the Jets, including a 2023 campaign where he led the NFL in punts and punting yards.

Barrows also notes that Jacob Cowing made the initial roster but is expected to land on injured reserve as he nurses a hamstring injury. This could open the door for one of the team’s cut WRs to land back on the active roster. That grouping includes Russell Gage, who had more than 1,500 receiving yards for the Falcons between the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Elsewhere on offense, Jeff Wilson‘s reunion with the 49ers proved to be short lived after he joined the organization earlier this month. The veteran spent the past two-plus seasons in Miami, but he had a successful run in San Francisco to begin his career. This included a 2020 campaign where he compiled 733 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns.

49ers HC Kyle Shanahan Expects WR Jauan Jennings To Play In Week 1

49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings has been sidelined for weeks due to a lingering calf problem. However, head coach Kyle Shanahan expects Jennings to be ready for Week 1.

“I expect him to be back, he should be back from it,” Shanahan told reporters, including Matt Barrows of The Athletic, on Saturday. “But you never know with a calf.”

Jennings, 28, is entering a platform campaign, the result of the two-year deal player and team worked out last spring in lieu of an RFA tender. San Francisco’s negotiations with fellow WR Brandon Aiyuk dominated the club’s storylines last year, but Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL and MCL in Week 7, thus opening the door for Jennings to earn more targets.

The Tennessee product took advantage of his opportunity, setting career-highs across the board with 77 catches for 975 yards and six scores. That showing, along with Aiyuk’s injury – which will keep him sidelined until at least Week 6 of the 2025 season – and the offseason trade of Deebo Samuel had Jennings angling for a raise.

Last month, it was reported that Jennings wanted a contract extension or, failing that, to be traded to a different team. Shanahan later said Jennings had not formally requested a trade, and the wideout did participate in practice at the beginning of training camp before the calf injury arose.

There has been speculation that Jennings’ absence is driven at least in part by his contract situation and not entirely by his health. In the wake of his recent trade for Skyy Moore, GM John Lynch was asked whether the move was designed to send a message to Jennings.

“No message,” Lynch predictably replied (via Tristi Rodriguez of NBC Sports Bay Area). “We like the player, Skyy. We love Jauan. We’re getting close to the season. Players got to practice, but if they’re not healthy enough to do it, they can’t. So that’s kind of where we’re at with Jauan right now.”

Although the Jennings contract/injury matter remains murky, Shanahan was at least able to put a positive spin on it by saying he expects Jennings to be available for Week 1. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for 2024 fourth-rounder Jacob Cowing.

Shanahan announced Cowing has reinjured the hamstring injury that kept him out of the bulk of training camp, and that he “pulled it fully” (via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner). Cowing will miss at least six weeks as a result. Fourth-round rookie Jordan Watkins may not be available for Week 1 due to a high ankle sprain, and it sounds as if Shanahan expects Demarcus Robinson’s three-game DUI suspension to be upheld on appeal, so the Ricky Pearsall-fronted WR corps could sorely use Jennings’ presence.

On the defensive side of the ball, Shanahan announced rookie corner Jakob Robinson sustained a broken forearm near the end of Saturday’s preseason finale (via Wagoner). That is an especially tough development for Robinson, a rookie UDFA who appeared to have a real chance to make the 53-man roster.

49ers Announce 6 UDFA Signings

After tying for a league-high 11 draft picks over the weekend, the 49ers have added another six players to their 2025 rookie class. Here are the team’s undrafted free agent signings:

The 6-foot-4, 218-pound Neyor ran a 4.40-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, where he also posted elite numbers in the broad and long jumps. Despite his enticing athletic profile, he went undrafted due to injuries and a lack of production in college. After redshirting as a freshman in 2019, the former Wyoming Cowboy emerged as a deep threat in 2020 and 2021. He transferred to Texas in 2022 but suffered a torn ACL in the preseason that he re-injured in 2023, limiting him to just one game as a Longhorn. Neyor transferred once more, this time to Nebraska, but struggled to produce in 2024 with just 34 catches for 455 yards in 10 games. His intriguing size/speed combination makes him a strong blocker and could translate into special teams duties in the NFL as he develops as a receiver.

Moss started at right tackle for two years at Lamar before transferring to Colorado State in 2023. He started at right tackle during his first season in Fort Collins before playing his best ball at right guard in 2024. His arm length will likely restrict him to the interior in the NFL, but his versatility, experience, and grit will help him battle for a roster spot.

Kiner is a smaller, compact back at 5-foot-9 and 203 pounds who enters the NFL after back-to-back years with over 1,000 rushing yards at Cincinnati. He originally committed to LSU but transferred to his hometown Bearcats after just one year in Baton Rouge. Kiner runs with balance and strength to break tackles, but his speed and acceleration are below typical NFL standards at the position. He lacks the physical profile and experience of a special teams contributor but showed some promise as a pass-catcher in 2024 by catching all 16 of his targets.

Blanton could be a name to watch in San Francisco, as well. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, the former Bulldog’s undrafted rookie deal includes $92K of guaranteed money.