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WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling Chose 49ers Over Steelers

August 29th, 2025 at 9:29am CST by Adam La Rose

Following his Seahawks release, Marquez Valdes-Scantling became one of the top receivers on the open market. A deal sending him to the 49ers’ active roster was quickly worked out.

As a result, the veteran deep threat is in position to handle a role right away with a San Francisco team in need of healthy options at the receiver position. Valdes-Scantling had interest from other suitors, though. The runner-up in his market turned out to be the Steelers.

“It was between here and Pittsburgh,” Valdes-Scantling said during his introductory press conference (video link). “Obviously, I have a great relationship with Aaron Rodgers over there, and he wanted me back over there. So, it was a toss-up, 50/50, and I had to weigh my options and see which one I wanted to do, which was going to be better for my career at this point, and I was excited about it.”

Rodgers and Valdes-Scantling played together for four years in Green Bay. It comes as little surprise the Pittsburgh quarterback attempted to engineer a deal given his previous efforts to reunite with former Packers teammates. The Steelers have long been connected to a potential receiver addition this offseason, and their ongoing interest in Gabe Davis points to Pittsburgh looking for a vertical threat in particular.

Instead of reuniting with Rodgers for 2025, Valdes-Scantling will look to carve out an immediate role in San Francisco. The 49ers will be without Brandon Aiyuk and Jacob Cowing for at least the first four weeks of the season. Demarcus Robinson will be sidelined until Week 4 due to suspension, and it remains to be seen if Jauan Jennings will be available for the season opener. A short acclimation period will be in store, but Valdes-Scantling noted a familiarity with the 49ers’ scheme based on his time with Klint Kubiak in New Orleans last year and Seattle this summer. Kubiak’s brother Klay is San Francisco’s offensive coordinator.

The Steelers are set to move forward with a WR room led by trade acquisition D.K. Metcalf and returnees Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson. Davis is still unsigned, and especially with Valdes-Scantling turning down the opportunity to head to Pittsburgh it will be interesting to see if the team pursues a deal on that front over the coming days.

2025 NFL Trades

August 28th, 2025 at 11:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

The modern NFL features four clear trade windows. While the Cowboys and Steelers’ George Pickens swap showed moves can be made at other points on the NFL calendar, early March, the draft, the late-August 53-man roster-setting date and the November deadline reside as the primary points trades occur around the league. On that note, it is a good time to check in on what has transpired on the trade market between windows two and three.

Excluding pick-for-pick trades, here are the moves NFL teams have made thus far in 2025:

March 1

49ers chose running back Jordan James at 147

March 4

Rams traded pick to Vikings, moving up to No. 172 for linebacker Chris Paul Jr.

March 5

March 6

March 7

Seahawks chose quarterback Jalen Milroe at 92

March 9

Seahawks used No. 52 to trade up (via the Titans) 17 spots for safety Nick Emmanwori, drafted running back Damien Martinez at 223; Steelers selected quarterback Will Howard at 185

March 10

Texans added wide receiver Jaylin Noel at 79, sent 236 to Jaguars in Day 2 trade; Commanders chose wideout Jaylin Lane at No. 128 

Eagles used No. 164 to climb one spot (via Chiefs) in first round for linebacker Jihaad Campbell

March 11

March 12

Bills took Ohio State cornerback Jordan Hancock at 170; Cowboys chose guard Ajani Cornelius at No. 204

Titans drafted running back Kalel Mullings at No. 188; Cowboys chose running back Phil Mafah at 239

March 13

March 15

Vikings packaged No. 187 in trade-down move (via Texans); 49ers drafted safety Marques Sigle at 160

April 3

Patriots traded down from No. 171 (via Lions) to draft kicker Andres Borregales; Cowboys chose defensive tackle Jay Toia at 217

April 26

Seahawks selected defensive lineman Rylie Mills at No. 142; Vikings traded No. 172 to Rams

May 7

June 2

Pick could upgrade to fourth-rounder if performance-based conditions are met

June 30

July 1

August 4

August 17

August 20

August 22

August 24

August 25

August 26

August 27

August 28

September 8

2026 fifth-round pick (from Bryce Huff trade) could upgrade to fourth-rounder, which would be sent to Jacksonville if 49ers DE meets those conditions

September 14

September 23

September 29

October 7

October 8

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 8/28/25

August 28th, 2025 at 9:12pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Teams around the NFL continued to adjust their practice squads as new players came free from Wednesday’s transactions. Here are all the latest updates:

Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Falcons

Buffalo Bills

  • Signed: CB Jalen Kimber, DE Andre Jones Jr.
  • Released: CB Daequan Hardy

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos:

  • Signed: TE Patrick Murtaugh (international exemptin)

Detroit Lions: 

Green Bay Packers:

Houston Texans: 

  • Signed: OT Reid Holskey, WR Josh Kelly

Indianapolis Colts: 

Jacksonville Jaguars: 

Kansas City Chiefs:

Los Angeles Chargers:

Miami Dolphins:

  • Signed: RB JaMycal Hasty

Minnesota Vikings:

New England Patriots: 

New York Giants: 

  • Signed: TE Qadir Ismail

New York Jets: 

  • Signed: OL Marquis Hayes, DB Korie Black

Philadelphia Eagles:

  • Signed: WR Britain Covey, OT Luke Felix Fualalo (international exemption)

San Francisco 49ers: 

Seattle Seahawks: 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 

Tennessee Titans: 

Washington Commanders: 

Signed: RB Donovan Edwards, CB Darius Rush

Ismail was one of 17 players to work out for the Giants on Thursday, per The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. He won the practice squad spot over more notable players like former Broncos safety Caden Sterns and former Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Canadian quarterback Taylor Elgersma also attended the workout, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post, suggesting that the Giants might be looking for extra depth at the position.

Wallace worked out for the Vikings on Thursday, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. It must have gone well, as he was signed to the practice squad hours later as extra depth both in the secondary and on special teams.

Griffin returned to the Seahawks this offseason, eight years after they made him a third-round pick in the 2017 draft. He did not make Seattle’s 53-man roster, but as a vested veteran, he was able to re-sign to the practice squad without going through waivers.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/28/25

August 28th, 2025 at 7:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

As rosters continue to be sorted out, here are Thursday’s minor moves around the NFL:

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Waived: DT Eric Gregory

Dallas Cowboys

Las Vegas Raiders

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Patriots To Release WR Kendrick Bourne; 49ers Interested In Reunion

August 28th, 2025 at 9:40am CST by Sam Robinson

AUGUST 28: John Lynch confirmed during a KNBR interview (via the San Jose Mercury News’ Cam Inman) the 49ers are indeed discussing the prospect of reuniting with Bourne. The team is factoring in Bourne’s recent injury absence into this effort, but the eight-year veteran — the first four coming in San Francisco — is on the radar to return.

AUGUST 27: Kendrick Bourne‘s up-and-down Patriots stint is over. Despite being carried through to New England’s 53-man roster, the veteran wide receiver is being released, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports.

This will wrap a four-plus-year tenure for Bourne, who has been a trade-rumor mainstay. He will now seek a fresh start elsewhere. The Vikings had shown interest in Bourne before acquiring Adam Thielen, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who adds other teams expressed interest as well. Bourne should be able to find a new home fairly soon.

Unsurprisingly, the 49ers are interested in bringing Bourne back, NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco reports. Bourne played four 49ers seasons before joining the Patriots, and the teams discussed a trade during last summer’s Brandon Aiyuk saga. Bourne asked for his Pats release, The Athletic’s Jeff Howe adds. We mentioned Bourne as a release candidate earlier this summer.

The Patriots had kept eight receivers on their initial 53-man roster. Some teams keep five, six or even seven; eight is an unrealistic number for a team to devote to this position. And New England, which has made many changes in Mike Vrabel‘s first offseason, is cutting the cord. Bourne had re-signed with the Pats on a three-year, $19.5MM deal last March. No guaranteed money remained on the contract, and the Pats will escape it with just a $2.8MM dead money hit.

Although the 49ers discussed Bourne with the Pats last summer, he was not eyeing a move back to San Francisco at the deadline. Interest still came in for Bourne, who was no longer a centerpiece part in the Pats’ WR equation this year. The team added Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins in free agency. Bourne posted an 800-yard season in Josh McDaniels‘ previous Pats season (2021) but has not eclipsed 500 yards in a single campaign since. Still, he is entering an age-30 season and viewed as a solid auxiliary performer.

The 49ers have added Skyy Moore and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. This comes after Aiyuk moved to the reserve/PUP list and Demarcus Robinson shifted to the reserve/suspended list. The 49ers had not seen Jauan Jennings practice in several weeks due to a calf injury (and contract matter), while Jacob Cowing is also hurt. Bourne, a UDFA who posted 667 yards in his 2020 San Francisco finale, would make sense as an option now that he’s available.

Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC West

August 27th, 2025 at 6:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

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.

Arizona Cardinals

Signed to practice squad:

Los Angeles Rams

Signed to practice squad:

San Francisco 49ers

Signed: 

Claimed:

Released from IR (via settlement):

Signed to practice squad:

Seattle Seahawks

Signed:

Claimed:

Released:

Signed to practice squad:

John Lynch: 49ers Not Trading WR Jauan Jennings

August 27th, 2025 at 4:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

Last month, it was reported Jauan Jennings would seek a trade in the event he did not receive an extension. No new contract is forthcoming, and a swap sending him out of San Francisco is not on tap either.

[RELATED: 49ers To Add Marquez Valdes-Scantling]

When speaking to the media on Wednesday, general manager John Lynch confirmed Jennings did submit a trade request earlier this offseason. He made it clear, however, that no consideration has been given to dealing away the 28-year-old wideout. According to Lynch, both sides have moved on by this point.

“He’s been putting in work to the side,” Lynch said (via Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News) when referring to Jennings’ calf injury. “Both can be true: he wants a new contract and he has a hurt calf. Everyone assumes one or the other. Both can be true.”

Earlier this week, head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated he expects Jennings to be healed in time for Week 1. That would certainly be a welcomed development given the team’s plethora of injuries at the WR spot. Jacob Cowing was moved to injured reserve today, ensuring he will join Brandon Aiyuk and Demarcus Robinson on the sidelines through September. Having Jennings in place would be key for the team’s passing game, especially with the former seventh-rounder coming off by far his best season to date.

Jennings posted 975 yards and six touchdowns in 2024 and used that as a way of trying to leverage a new pact. The 49ers certainly have a long history of working out lucrative (and often protracted) extensions with high-profile players under Lynch, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Owed $4MM in 2025, Jennings will not be among them, however.

The Tennessee product is a pending free agent, so his market value will be dictated by the extent to which he can duplicate last year’s success. Especially before Aiyuk is back in the fold, a key role should await Jennings in the passing game. A strong showing would help his ability to land a raise next spring, but no new San Francisco pact (or change of scenery) will be in place before then.

49ers Re-Sign P Thomas Morstead, Place WR Jacob Cowing On IR

August 27th, 2025 at 3:39pm CST by Adam La Rose

After their moves to get down to 53 on their roster, the 49ers were temporarily without a punter. Thomas Morstead is back in the fold today, however.

Morstead was re-signed on Wednesday, per a team announcement. The move means he will be able to handle punting duties at the start of the campaign. In a corresponding move, San Francisco’s receiver depth has been dealt another blow. Jacob Cowing is now on injured reserve.

Morstead is entering his 17th NFL season but his first in the Bay Area. The former Saint, Dolphin, Falcon and Jet was released shortly after the draft this spring. He quickly managed to line up a new deal, signing with the 49ers. Morstead took a one-year pact to head to San Francisco, and that will no doubt be the case again on his post-release contract with the team.

Cowing is set to miss at least the first month of the season. The 2024 fourth-rounder was not a factor on offense despite playing 15 games as a rookie, but he entered the summer as a candidate for an increased workload. Instead, Cowing’s second NFL campaign will be delayed at the start. This news adds further to the lack of availability at the receiver position the 49ers are currently dealing with.

Brandon Aiyuk will be sidelined through at least September, while Demarcus Robinson will start the campaign by serving his three-game DUI suspension. San Francisco has been busy adding wideouts with those looming absences in mind, and any more moves will now come with the knowledge Cowing will be unavailable early on.

49ers To Sign WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling

August 27th, 2025 at 11:15am CST by Sam Robinson

Marquez Valdes-Scantling did not make the Seahawks’ 53-man roster. Rather than a potential practice squad deal, the veteran wide receiver will accept an active-roster offer elsewhere in the NFC West.

The well-traveled wideout is signing with the 49ers, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports. San Francisco is shorthanded at receiver, and the team now has three ex-Chiefs in the fold. While Demarcus Robinson serves a three-game suspension, however, MVS and Skyy Moore are now in place. This is a practice squad deal, per The Athletic’s Matt Barrows.

Valdes-Scantling signed a one-year, $4MM Seahawks deal in March, staying with Klint Kubiak after their short time together in New Orleans. The Seahawks took on $3MM in dead money by cutting MVS, though the experienced wideout will be in a familiar system. Kyle Shanahan oversaw both Kubiak and Matt LaFleur during his career; that will make Valdes-Scantling a fit as a tertiary target.

The 49ers placed Brandon Aiyuk on the reserve/PUP list Tuesday and shifted Robinson to the reserve/suspended list. The team also has not seen Jauan Jennings practice in weeks due to a calf injury; a contract issue is also a factor for Jennings, though time is running out on that front. Second-year player Jacob Cowing made the 49ers’ 53-man roster but is also battling an injury. MVS might not be the only WR the 49ers add; they are believed to be interested in reuniting with Kendrick Bourne after his Patriots release.

Despite being released by the Bills months into his tenure, Valdes-Scantling made some contributions to the Saints to generate interest ahead of the $4MM Seahawks deal. The 30-year-old receiver — who had been one of the NFL’s more notable deep threats for a period in Green Bay and Kansas City — caught 17 passes for 385 yards and four touchdowns in New Orleans.

A penchant for drops notwithstanding, MVS made some pivotal playoff receptions for the Chiefs — including a touchdown grab in Super Bowl LVIII — as they closed out a championship season in 2023. A year prior, the ex-Packers fifth-rounder eclipsed 100 receiving yards in an AFC championship game in which the Chiefs were battered at wide receiver. The 49ers will call on the seven-year vet for some short-term aid.

2025 NFL Waiver Order

August 27th, 2025 at 9:57am CST by Nikhil Mehta

Many of the players cut Tuesday were subject to waivers, giving teams a chance to pick them up (along with the rest of their contract). Teams can claim as many players as they want before the next team gets their remaining targets.

It’s also worth noting that relatively few players are claimed off waivers during final roster cuts each year. Waiver claims will be processed at 11am CT in the following order (via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo). In reverse order of the 2024 NFL standings, here is how the waiver priority sits:

  1. Titans
  2. Browns
  3. Giants
  4. Patriots
  5. Jaguars
  6. Raiders
  7. Jets
  8. Panthers
  9. Saints
  10. Bears
  11. 49ers
  12. Cowboys
  13. Dolphins
  14. Colts
  15. Falcons
  16. Cardinals
  17. Bengals
  18. Seahawks
  19. Buccaneers
  20. Broncos
  21. Steelers
  22. Chargers
  23. Packers
  24. Vikings
  25. Texans
  26. Rams
  27. Ravens
  28. Lions
  29. Commanders
  30. Bills
  31. Chiefs
  32. Eagles
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