49ers Rumors: DE Trade, Warner, Aiyuk, Bosa
Despite another barrage of injuries to marquee players, the 49ers are 5-2 and in a three-way tie for first place in the NFC West. Following the season-ending ACL tear that standout pass rusher Nick Bosa sustained in Week 3, GM John Lynch said the club would look to the trade market for reinforcements on the edge (comments he seemed to walk back to an extent in the wake of the potentially season-ending ankle injury that star linebacker Fred Warner suffered in Week 6).
Now, offseason trade acquisition Bryce Huff – whose role had increased with Bosa on the sidelines – is set to miss some time due to a hamstring ailment. Notwithstanding the remarks he made after the Warner injury, Lynch is surely doing his due diligence on EDGE players who might be available via trade, and he conceded he will pull the trigger if the right opportunity presents itself. That has not happened yet, but it could.
When asked about the possibility of adding a defensive end, Lynch told KNBR radio, “[w]e don’t have to … But we have plenty in this building … We’ll hold down the fort until [Huff’s hamstring is healed]. If it can help our team we won’t hesitate to do it. But nothing has presented itself that aligns completely to this point” (via Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News).
The trade deadline is a little more than a week away, and talks around the league will surely heat up as November 4 draws nearer. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler noted that teams with pass rushers to deal are (understandably) seeking significant compensation in return for their premium-position talent. Prospective buyers, meanwhile, are hoping the price will come down in the upcoming days, leading Fowler to believe the EDGE market could be a late-forming one.
As Lynch continues to survey that market, he could soon get some much-needed good news on the injury front. After a disappointing September update on wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk’s ACL and MCL tears – which he suffered in Week 7 of the 2024 campaign – recent reports suggested the club was targeting a November return for the 2020 first-rounder. It still seems that is the case, as head coach Kyle Shanahan recently told reporters (including ESPN’s Nick Wagoner) that Aiyuk could begin practicing as early as this week. Whenever San Francisco opens Aiyuk’s practice window, it will have up to 21 days to activate him. Failing that, he will revert to season-ending injured reserve.
Surgeons whom Matt Barrows of The Athletic consulted said Warner could be healthy enough to return for the playoffs should the Niners qualify, and Lynch confirmed as much. Per Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle, the GM did not rule out the possibility of a postseason return for Warner.
Bosa, on the other hand, is definitely done for the rest of the regular season and any potential postseason contests. Wagoner reported at the end of September that Bosa’s surgery on his torn ACL went well, and Barrows said the Niners could see up to $9MM in cap savings as a result of the insurance policy they took out on Bosa’s mega-deal.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/25/25
Here are Saturday’s minor moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations for tomorrow’s slate of games:
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: DT Taven Bryan, S Keondre Jackson
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: OLB Boogie Basham, QB Hendon Hooker
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: LB Joe Giles-Harris
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: DT Sam Kamara, QB Bailey Zappe
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: LB Jordan Turner
Houston Texans
- Activated from IR: CB Jaylin Smith
- Elevated: WR Jared Wayne
- Waived: TE Brenden Bates
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: CB Cameron Mitchell, DE Durell Nchami
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: TE Hayden Rucci, CB Kendall Sheffield
New England Patriots
- Elevated: S Richie Grant, RB Terrell Jennings
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: LB Eku Leota
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from IR: WR Darius Cooper
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: DE Trevis Gipson, OL Nick Zakelj
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: QB Connor Bazelak, OLB Mohamed Kamara
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: WR James Proche
Recently named QB2 Shedeur Sanders found his way to the injury report today with a back injury. By elevating Zappe, Cleveland is ensuring Sanders won’t play tomorrow, since in order to have three quarterbacks dressed for gameday, all three passers must be on the 53-man roster. Zappe will back up Dillon Gabriel, and Sanders will likely be in sweats. Similarly in Carolina, with Bryce Young set to sit this week, Hooker has been called up to back up Andy Dalton.
Both Buccaneers quarterbacks, Baker Mayfield and Teddy Bridgewater, were on the injury report this week, though neither received a “questionable” injury designation as result of their ailments. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported that both passers are expected to be available, but with Bazelak taking up a spot on the active roster, it seems likely that only one other quarterback will be suited up alongside the practice squad callup. Because Bazelak’s not on the 53-man roster, only two passers can be active. Tampa Bay can still designate Bazelak as the inactive third quarterback, but doing so would seemingly be making this elevation moot.
There is no corresponding move necessary for Philadelphia to add Cooper. The team received a two-game roster exemption after signing veteran defensive end Brandon Graham, so they had an open roster spot.
For Basham in Carolina and Jennings in New England, this will be their third and final standard gameday practice squad elevations. If either of their respective teams want them to play in another game this season, they will need to first be signed to the 53-man roster.
Brock Purdy Ruled Out For Week 8; Mac Jones To Start
The 49ers will go another week without starting quarterback Brock Purdy, who’s continuing to deal with a toe injury. While Purdy was a limited participant in practice this week, the team has ruled him out for Sunday’s game in Houston. Backup Mac Jones will start again in Purdy’s place.
This will be the fourth missed game in a row for Purdy, who has sat out all but two contests this year. He started a Week 1 win over the Seahawks and a Week 4 loss to the Jaguars. Otherwise, the 49ers have turned to Jones, an offseason free agent acquisition who divided his first four years between New England and Jacksonville.
Jones signed a two-year, $7MM deal with the 49ers after reportedly spurning richer offers on the open market. The deal has worked out swimmingly for both sides in 2025.
Jones’ stock has likely risen as the former first-round pick has helped keep the injury-plagued 49ers firmly in the NFC playoff mix. The team is 5-2 and atop the NFC West, leading fellow five-win clubs in the Rams and Seahawks, and currently the second seed in the conference.
The 49ers have gone 4-1 under Jones, who has experienced his most success since helping the Patriots to a 10-7 mark and a playoff berth as a rookie in 2021. The 27-year-old has completed 67% of passes for 1,404 yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions. Jones has been playing through knee and oblique injuries, but he was a full participant in practice this week.
Although the Texans are off to a dismal 2-4 start, their defense should pose a significant challenge for Jones and the 49ers’ offense. Houston has given up a meager 14.7 points per game, which ranks first in the NFL. The Texans’ stop unit is also fourth in yards allowed and fifth against the pass.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/23/25
Here are the latest practice squad moves from around the NFL:
New York Giants
- Released: DB LaMareon James
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OLB Trevis Gipson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Lance McCutcheon
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/22/25
Here are today’s midweek minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Opened practice window: T Storm Norton
Cincinnati Bengals
- Opened practice window: DE Cedric Johnson
Denver Broncos
- Signed from practice squad: QB Sam Ehlinger
Detroit Lions
- Placed on IR: LB Zach Cunningham
Houston Texans
- Designated to return from IR: CB Jaylin Smith
Miami Dolphins
- Designated to return from IR: CB Jason Marshall
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from IR: DT John Ridgeway
Philadelphia Eagles
- Designated to return from IR: CB Jakorian Bennett
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Designated to return from IR: QB Will Howard
- Waived (with injury settlement): T Gareth Warren
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed from practice squad: DE Robert Beal Jr.
- Designated to return from IR: OL Spencer Burford
- Released: DE Trevis Gipson
Seattle Seahawks
- Released: TE Eric Saubert
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed from practice squad: G Michael Jordan
- Placed on IR: WR Mike Evans (story)
While several players were designated to return from injured reserve today, Norton and Johnson’s designations took place back on 8/26, the roster cut deadline. The Texans are in danger of being without their top three receivers in Week 8. Tank Dell is already on IR, but Nico Collins and Christian Kirk’s statuses for the weekend are up in the air as Collins deals with a concussion and Kirk has been dealing with n hamstring injury.
Not that they’ve needed him, since Aaron Rodgers has looked a bit more effective than he was in his days with the Jets, but Howard is nearing a return to the roster for the remainder of his rookie season. It will be interesting to see where the sixth-rounder slots in on the depth chart as he adds another level of security behind the 41-year-old Rodgers.
Bengals Open To Trading Logan Wilson
While the Bengals are unlikely to trade superstar pass rusher Trey Hendrickson before the Nov. 4 deadline, they could move another longtime defensive linchpin in the next couple of weeks. They’re “open to dealing” linebacker Logan Wilson, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Now in his sixth season, Wilson joined the Bengals as a third-round pick from Wyoming in 2020. After mostly working as a reserve during his rookie campaign, Wilson has started in all 65 of his appearances since his second season.
In his most productive season, 2023, Wilson tallied 135 tackles, four interceptions, and two forced fumbles over 17 games. The Bengals signed him to a four-year, $37.25MM extension prior to that season. He’s under team control through 2027 as a result.
Despite the long-term commitment the Bengals made to Wilson, and despite his past production, the team has reduced his role this season. Wilson has played in all seven of the Bengals’ games and notched 41 tackles, but fourth-round rookie Barrett Carter has begun eating into his playing time under first-year defensive coordinator Al Golden. While Golden coached Wilson and the rest of the Bengals’ linebackers from 2020-21, Lou Anarumo ran the defense during the first five years of his career. Anarumo is now the D-coordinator for the Colts, who are looking for defensive help.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor indicated last week that Carter will continue to get more reps than Wilson, per Ben Baby of ESPN.com, saying: “I just felt he’s shown enough to [have us] continue to work through it. We’re going to see constant improvement every single game.”
With Carter usurping Wilson’s role alongside Demetrius Knight, the Bengals’ other primary linebacker, a deadline trade looks like a realistic possibility. Fowler and colleague Matt Bowen name the Colts as a potential fit, which would enable Wilson to reunite with Anarumo. They also identify the Cowboys, 49ers, and Bills as other teams that could swing a deal for Wilson.
Although the Cowboys boast an elite offense, they’re in dire need of defensive help, whether that’s Wilson or a more splashy acquisition. The 49ers could have interest in Wilson after losing four-time first-team All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner to a season-ending ankle injury. The Bills extended LB Terrel Bernard on a four-year, $50MM pact last March, but the oft-injured Matt Milano and Shaq Thompson aren’t under contract past this season, and third-year man Dorian Williams has struggled in 2025.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/21/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OL Raiqwon O’Neal
- Placed on IR: OL Ryan Hayes
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: LB Jeremiah Moon
- Released: CB Keion Crossen, OT Michael Tarquin
Chicago Bears
- Released: DL Tanoh Kpassagnon
Denver Broncos
- Signed: OL Marques Cox
- Released: OL Karsen Barnhart
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Ty Summers
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DE Seth Coleman
- Released: CB Keenan Garber
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: RB Trayveon Williams
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: RB Audric Estime
New York Giants
- Signed: DT Elijah Garcia
New York Jets
- Signed: DT Fatorma Mulbah
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released: TE Jaheim Bell
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Released: QB Logan Woodside
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Stone Blanton, TE Brayden Willis
- Released: TE Messiah Swinson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DE David Ebuka Agoha, LB Ochaun Mathis
- Released: LB Curtis Jacobs
49ers’ Bryce Huff, Jake Brendel To Miss Time
Week 7 saw the 49ers improve to 5-2 on the year. The team is now dealing with even more injuries, though, and San Francisco’s edge rush group has been dealt another blow. 
Defensive end Bryce Huff has a hamstring injury, head coach Kyle Shanahan said (via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner). An absence of multiple weeks is expected as a result. Starting center Jake Brendel finds himself in the same situation as Huff.
Matt Hennessey filled in at center to close out Sunday’s contest, and he could continue in that role moving forward while Brendel recovers. The interior of San Francisco’s offensive line could manage in that instance, but the team’s depth along the edge is now even more of a concern. Nick Bosa is out for the remainder of the season due to an ACL tear, something which has led many to expect a 49ers pass rush trade acquisition in the near future.
With Bosa sidelined, Huff has taken on an increased role. The former UDFA recorded one sack against the Falcons on Sunday, bringing his season total to four. After last year’s trade to the Eagles did not go as planned, Huff has managed to find success upon reuniting with 49ers defensive coordinator (and former Jets head coach) Robert Saleh. Having him unavailable for any period will be detrimental as a result. Shanahan added (via Wagoner’s colleague Adam Schefter) he hopes Huff does not miss more than two weeks.
General manager John Lynch has publicly confirmed the 49ers’ interest in making a trade to help compensate for Bosa’s absence along the edge, with 2024 sack leader Trey Hendrickson a name to watch on that front. More recently, however, he has suggested San Francisco could avoid costly acquisitions with not only Bosa but also All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner sidelined. It will be interesting to see how the team operates with two weeks remaining before the trade deadline given Huff’s status.
Tarron Jackson was moved to injured reserve in July after suffering a neck injury during practice. That move ended his campaign before it started, so instead of serving in a depth role behind Bosa and Huff he is on the mend as well. With a thin depth chart still in place along the edge, the 49ers will look to at least remain one of the NFC’s top teams until Huff is back in the fold.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/20/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Colton Dowell
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: CB David Long Jr.
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: TE Brayden Willis
David Long Jr. brings some experience to Indy’s practice squad, as the veteran defensive back has seen time in 79 career games. This included a 13-game showing with the Colts in 2024, although all but nine of his 117 snaps came on special teams. If he finds his way to the active roster, he’ll likely be eyeing a similar role this time around.
49ers Host LBs Workout
Last week, the 49ers suffered the loss of their best defensive player for the remainder of the season when Fred Warner‘s ankle was fractured and dislocated. The team officially placed him on injured reserve yesterday while, at the same time, hosting five free agent linebackers for workouts. Per Howard Balzer of CardsWire, linebackers Ben Niemann, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Chandler Wooten, and two others were in San Francisco for the tryout yesterday. 
One of the worst parts about losing a player as talented and reliable as Warner is that, considering he’s missed one of a possible 122 regular season games in his career, there usually isn’t much incentive to stack talent at the position behind him. The 49ers typically run two off-ball linebackers in their base defense. The starters are Warner and Dee Winters, and before last week’s game, there had only been five defensive snaps all season in which both were not on the field.
It was Tatum Bethune that subbed in for Warner in the remainder of last week’s game. Bethune was a seventh-round draft pick out of Florida State last year who played almost exclusively on special teams as a rookie. Appearing in 11 games, he saw defensive snaps in just five. He only saw more than four snaps in one game — the 6-11 team’s regular season finale in which Bethune was given a chance to start. The Week 18 start was not a sign of things to come, though. When Bethune entered for Warner last week, he was seeing his first defensive snaps since the three he played in Week 1 of this year.
So, while the 49ers may be comfortable moving forward with Bethune as the starting middle linebacker based on his familiarity with the defense over the past year and a half, one can hardly blame them for trying out some potential help. Niemann is the most experienced of the crowd. Starting his seven-year career in Kansas City, Niemann has been a dependable rotation defender for the Chiefs, Cardinals, and Lions over his career. He’s played in 103 total games, starting 25, and aside from his rookie season and a down year in Denver in 2023, Niemann’s averaged just over 50 tackles per season.
Reeves-Maybin is the next most experienced linebacker. Though he spent many years (seven in Detroit, one in Houston) as a depth piece and special teamer, Reeves-Maybin has shown he can perform as an injury replacement with 14 spot starts for the Lions, including 11 in 2021. He and Niemann were actually on the same defense in Detroit last year. Wooten was a depth piece and special teamer for the Panthers the last few years, earning two starts last year. He had signed briefly to San Francisco’s practice squad last year, returning to Carolina after a week.
The other two linebackers attending the workout were undrafted rookies Stone Blanton and Kam Arnold. Blanton signed with San Francisco out of Mississippi State, spending the offseason with the 49ers before failing to make the initial 53-man roster. Arnold, coming out of Boston College, followed a similar path with the Commanders. No contracts came immediately from yesterday’s workouts, but it will certainly be something to keep an eye on, depending on how Bethune performs in place of Warner as the season goes on.