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 Re-Sign DB Dontae Johnson, DL Jordan Willis
The 49ers are bringing back two key defenders. The 49ers have re-signed defensive lineman Jordan Willis and defensive back Dontae Johnson.
[RELATED: 49ers Re-Sign RB Jeff Wilson]
Willis made a name for himself in the playoffs, blocking a key punt that was returned for a game-tying touchdown in the 49ers’ playoff win over the Packers. Prior to that, the 26-year-old found himself in 10 regular season games, collecting 15 tackles, three sacks, and one forced fumble. He was suspended for the first six games of the season after violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.
Johnson has had two long stints with the 49ers, with his latest run beginning in the 2019. The former fourth-round pick also spent the first four seasons of his career in San Francisco. Johnson has appeared in 103 games (28 starts), including a 2021 campaign where he collected 30 tackles and one forced fumble in 16 games (three starts).
Earlier today, the 49ers re-signed running back Jeff Wilson to a one-year deal.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/25/21
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Zach Allen, LB Chandler Jones (story)
Denver Broncos
- Waived: LB Barrington Wade
Detroit Lions
- Placed on IR: OL Logan Stenberg
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed to active roster: TE Daniel Helm
Los Angeles Chargers
- Designated for return: DE Justin Jones
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: S Sheldrick Redwine (from Panthers’ practice squad)
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted: DT Josiah Bronson
New York Jets
- Released from IR: OT Teton Saltes
Philadelphia Eagles
- Claimed off waivers: QB Reid Sinnett (from Dolphins)
- Waived: LS Rick Lovato
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from reserve/suspended list: DL Jordan Willis
49ers Get Roster Down To 53
The 49ers made a long list of transactions today to get down to 53 players. Several of these moves have previously been reported, but for posterity’s sake, we’ve listed them all below.
Placed on reserve/PUP list
- DB Tarvarius Moore
- RB Jeff Wilson
Placed on IR
- OT Shon Coleman
Released
- WR Travis Benjamin
- OL Jake Brendel
- S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
- RB Wayne Gallman
- CB Dontae Johnson
- OL Senio Kelemete
- TE Jordan Matthews
- TE MyCole Pruitt
- QB Nate Sudfeld
- DL Eddie Yarbrough
Waived
- DL Alex Barrett
- WR River Cracraft
- DL Darrion Daniels
- OL Alfredo Gutierrez
- S Jared Mayden
- OL Colton McKivitz
- CB Alexander Myres
- OL Dakoda Shepley
- LB Elijah Sullivan
- WR Nsimba Webster
Placed on Reserved/Suspended List
49ers DE Jordan Willis Suspended Six Games
49ers defensive end Jordan Willis has been suspended for the first six games of the 2021 season, reports ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter). NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that Willis was banned for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.
The suspension would basically sideline the defensive lineman through the end of October. However, Willis will be allowed to participate in all offseason practices and preseason contests.
The former third-round pick was already going to be hard pressed to make the 49ers roster. Willis was acquired by the 49ers last season, and he was re-signed by the organization earlier this year. However, the team also added Zach Kerr and Maurice Hurst this offseason, pushing Willis down the depth chart.
In 50 career games split between the Bengals, Jets, and 49ers, the 26-year-old has collected 65 tackles and 5.5 sacks. He collected 13 tackles and five QB hits in seven games for San Francisco last season.
49ers Re-Sign DL Jordan Willis
Jordan Willis is off to San Francisco. The defensive end has signed with the 49ers, reports Matt Barrows of the The Athletic (via Twitter). It’s a one-year deal for the 25-year-old.
The former Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year was a third-round pick of the Bengals in 2017. He spent a pair of seasons with Cincinnati before moving on to the Jets in 2019, where he spent a year-plus. Last October, he was acquired by the 49ers (along with a seventh-rounder) in for a sixth-round pick, and Willis proceeded to appear in seven games for San Francisco.
Serving as defensive line coach Kris Kocurek “bravo” (or, simply, backup) defensive end, Willis finished the season having compiled 13 tackles and a career-high 2.5 sacks.
The 49ers lost some defensive line depth earlier today. After starting a career-high 14 games for the 49ers last season, defensive end Kerry Hyder is set to ink a three-year deal with the Seahawks.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/1/21
Here are the minor moves from New Year’s Day:
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: DB Terrell Bonds
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR John Brown
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Justin Hamilton, S Darian Thompson; Thompson tested positive for the coronavirus, according to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: S Erik Harris
Los Angeles Chargers
- Placed on IR: CB Casey Hayward, LB Malik Jefferson
- Promoted: LB Cole Christiansen, DE Joe Gaziano, TE Matt Sokol, S Jaylen Watkins
New England Patriots
- Promoted: CB Dee Virgin
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: TE Jason Croom, LB Rashad Smith
- Placed on IR: LB Shaun Bradley, LB Duke Riley
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: T Trent Williams, DL Jordan Willis; Williams suffered an elbow injury that was set to keep him out of Week 17
- Promoted: DE Alex Barrett
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed off Patriots’ practice squad: LB Jack Cichy
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Steve McLendon
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/2/20
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted: WR Jake Kumerow
Denver Broncos
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Shelby Harris
Detroit Lions
- Promoted: DT Kevin Strong
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Krys Barnes
Houston Texans
- Promoted: DL Corey Liuget
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted: DT Benito Jones
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted: LS Andrew DePaola
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Brandon Aiyuk, DL D.J. Jones, DL Jordan Willis
- Promoted: S Kai Nacua
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: DL Jeremiah Ledbetter
- Waived: LB Jack Cichy
Jets To Trade Jordan Willis To 49ers
After dealing starter Steve McLendon, the Jets are trading another defender. The 49ers will acquire edge defender Jordan Willis from the Jets, per Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter).
This is a low-profile move ahead of the Nov. 3 deadline. The 49ers will send the Jets a 2022 sixth-round pick and get back a 2021 seventh in this swap, per Pelissero (on Twitter). Willis’ profile has lowered considerably over the past two seasons, but he will have another chance at raising it soon.
The former Bengals third-round pick has worked as a backup with the Jets. He has played 46 defensive snaps this season and was a nine-game backup in 2019, after the Jets claimed him off waivers from the Bengals. Willis, who was a regular rotational cog in 2017 and ’18 in Cincinnati, has not played since Week 3.
The 49ers have seen injuries deplete their once-vaunted defensive line this season. Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas are out for the season, and Dee Ford has no return date in sight. Willis has just three career sacks, but the 49ers will have some extra depth after Willis clears the lengthy COVID-19 protocols.