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San Francisco 49ers News & Rumors

49ers To Place G Ben Bartch On IR

September 17th, 2025 at 2:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

Post-Laken Tomlinson, the 49ers have prioritized the edges of their offensive line. Trent Williams has stood as a $20MM-per-year blocker since 2021, and the team gave Colton McKivitz another extension after he had replaced top-10 investment Mike McGlinchey at right tackle. That has meant turnover among low-cost players inside. Ben Bartch is part of the latest wave, but he has not made it far in his first season as a full-time San Francisco starter.

Entering the season as the 49ers’ Aaron Banks replacement at left guard, Bartch did not make it out of Week 2. The former Jaguar suffered a high ankle sprain against the Saints, and Kyle Shanahan said he would miss extensive time. That will come to fruition, with the 49ers placing Bartch on IR today, per the San Francisco Chronicle’s Noah Furtado.

This injury is expected to sideline Bartch between four and six weeks, according to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco. The team will use IR as a result. The 49ers have seven injury activations remaining, having used one of their August IR-return designations on defensive tackle Kevin Givens. While Givens already counts toward that eight-activation total due to a summer designation being used, Bartch will not count toward that number until he is brought back to the 53-man roster.

Tied to a one-year, $1.34MM contract, Bartch beat out Nick Zakelj for the 49ers’ LG job in Week 1. However, seventh-round rookie Connor Colby replaced Bartch when he went down in New Orleans. He will start in Week 3, per The Athletic’s Matt Barrows. Zakelj did not make San Francisco’s 53-man roster but remains on the practice squad. While the young blocker remains an option to provide insurance, the 49ers did not sign him to the active roster in a corresponding move. Tight end Brayden Willis will take Bartch’s place instead.

Colby only arrived as the No. 249 overall pick, but he worked as a four-year starter at Iowa. Blocking for the likes of Kaleb Johnson and Tyler Goodson with the Hawkeyes, Colby earned first-team All-Big Ten acclaim in 2024 and third-team recognition in 2023. Colby made 50 starts at Iowa, providing interesting appeal for a seventh-round pick as a fill-in option. Colby will work opposite 2024 third-round pick Dominick Puni, and it will be worth monitoring if Bartch will return as a starter or a swingman.

A 2020 Jaguars fourth-round pick, Bartch has been in the 49ers’ system since being added shortly after the 2023 trade deadline. Bartch has made 24 career starts, including two last season with the 49ers, but will see his first run as a full-timer since 2022 paused for a while.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/15/25

September 15th, 2025 at 7:52pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

  • Signed: OT Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, TE Joel Wilson
  • Released: TE Drake Dabney

The 49ers brought back a familiar face in Robert Beal Jr.. The 26-year-old has appeared in 18 career games with San Francisco, compiling 22 tackles and one sack. The majority of that playing time came last year, when he got into 14 contests. Beal made the initial 53-man roster this season before getting waived last week. The 49ers already had an open spot on their taxi squad after linebacker Curtis Robinson was signed to the active roster the other day.

Mac Jones Rejected Better Offers To Join 49ers; Brock Purdy Unlikely To Return In Week 3

September 14th, 2025 at 11:52am CST by Sam Robinson

One of the more fascinating QB debuts with a team in recent memory will take place today, with Mac Jones starting for a 49ers team that strongly considered drafting him four years ago. Jones circling back to the 49ers this offseason did not receive tremendous attention, given Brock Purdy‘s unquestioned QB1 status, but it is now quite relevant due to the starter’s injuries.

With Purdy sidelined due to a shoulder injury and a bout with turf toe, Jones is stepping in. Jones joined the 49ers on a two-year, $7MM deal that included $4.75MM guaranteed at signing. This was not believed to be the former first-rounder’s top offer, with The Athletic’s Dianna Russini noting the ex-Patriots and Jaguars passer rejected bigger offers to sign with the Niners.

Jones’ market did not produce connections to other teams before his March 12 San Francisco commitment, but he will follow the Sam Darnold reset path as Purdy’s backup. Darnold played out the 2023 season as the 49ers’ QB2, and the $4.5MM contract worked as a springboard to better opportunities. Jones produced a better pre-San Francisco season than anything Darnold offered, via the 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year runner-up campaign that led New England to the playoffs, though his steep freefall since that point differs from Darnold’s early-career path.

The Jags acquired Jones from the Pats for just a sixth-round pick and needed him for seven 2024 starts due to Trevor Lawrence injuries. Not particularly impressive (8:8 TD-INT ratio, 6.4 yards per attempt) with a 4-13 team, Jones still commanded the 49ers’ attention. Considering the franchise’s interest in the former national championship-winning Alabama arm four years ago, it was unsurprising to see Kyle Shanahan revisit him via free agency.

Plenty has come out about Shanahan’s Jones interest in 2021, and Russini reaffirms the 49ers’ blockbuster trade-up move (via the Dolphins) came with Jones in mind. Shanahan has said the 49ers were considering Jones and Trey Lance that year; the 49ers’ John Lynch– and Adam Peters-led front office has long been believed to have talked Shanahan out of Jones at No. 3 due to the better value (at the time, at least) Lance brought. Lance never proved a fit in Shanahan’s offense and was sent to Dallas for a fourth-round pick months after the 49ers signed Darnold.

Considering Shanahan’s success with Purdy and Jimmy Garoppolo in San Francisco (and other QBs during his OC stops), it is fairly safe to assume Jones would have been better served by being a 49ers draftee rather than going 15th to the Patriots. Bill Belichick‘s penultimate year as Pats HC involved a bizarre move to install Matt Patricia as the primary offensive play-caller, and Jones — whose Belichick relationship was not exactly strong — could not recapture his rookie-year form under Bill O’Brien in 2023. Jones ended that season on the bench, as the Patriots closed out the Belichick era with Bailey Zappe at the controls.

The 49ers’ trade without a consensus on where to go at No. 3 was always a bit odd, even if the Lawrence-Zach Wilson order atop the draft was well known by the time the team pulled the trigger on a deal that sent two first-rounders and a third to Miami. Jones, 27, now has a chance to craft a midcareer resurgence of sorts. It will be interesting to see how Jones looks given the downward trajectory his career has taken since a promising rookie slate. The 49ers not having George Kittle available will hurt the fifth-year QB’s cause, but the team will have Jauan Jennings after the wideout was questionable with a shoulder injury.

Purdy is not viewed as likely to suit up in Week 3 against the Cardinals, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, even though the recently extended passer “progressed a lot” this week. Indeed, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport adds the 49ers believe the turf toe injury Purdy is battling is not as significant as first thought. This puts Week 4 (against the Jaguars) in play for a Purdy return. Though, the two- to five-week timetable initially given to the fourth-year starter could certainly point to caution on the 49ers’ part.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/13/25

September 13th, 2025 at 7:54pm CST by Ely Allen

Here’s are today’s minor transactions and standard gameday practice squad elevations:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears 

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

With one quarterback on the reserve/non-football injury list and starter Brock Purdy inactive, Martinez comes up with the potential to appear in his first ever NFL game, though Niners fans hope his presence will not be necessary.

Bell will be active for tomorrow’s game as the Seahawks work to replace second-round rookie Nick Emmanwori in the secondary. Emmanwori has been ruled out with an ankle injury. Similarly, Wallow will be part of the Broncos’ efforts to fill in for injured linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who has been ruled out for the second week in a row.

K Eddy Piñeiro Chose 49ers Over Falcons

September 13th, 2025 at 9:46am CST by Nikhil Mehta

Multiple teams considered a change at kicker after disappointing performances in Week 1.

The Browns are sticking with Andre Szmyt, but the 49ers and the Falcons both scoured the free agent market for a new kicker. They landed on the same preferred option: veteran Eddy Piñeiro, who ranks fourth all-time with a 88.1% field goal conversion rate.

Piñeiro revealed (via NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco) that both San Francisco and Atlanta made him offers on Monday. He didn’t say why he chose the 49ers, but it’s likely because they offered him a 53-man roster spot. while the Falcons were looking to make a practice squad addition. After Piñeiro turned them down, the Falcons brought in John Parker Romo as competition to Younghoe Koo.

The interest in Piñeiro highlights the quietly competitive in-season market for kicking talent. Due to a combination of poor performance, injury, and the occasional suspension, NFL teams typically combine to use more than 40 kickers every year. Even if one doesn’t earn a starting job during training camp, more opportunities are sure to pop up throughout the season.

As a result, the 49ers’ quick decision to move on from Jake Moody gave them the best opportunity at securing their desired target. If Piñeiro can continue his consistency in San Francisco, he should hold onto his roster spot for the rest of the year.

QB Brock Purdy Ruled Out For Week 2

September 12th, 2025 at 6:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

SEPTEMBER 12: Purdy has officially been ruled out for the 49ers’ Week 2 trip to New Orleans. Jones will step in as QB1. With Purdy unable to practice, Jones has been taking all of the first-team reps this week. With rookie seventh-rounder Kurtis Rourke still in a likely redshirt year after starting the year on the reserve/non-football injury list while he recovers from ACL repair surgery, San Francisco is planning to elevate former Nebraska and Kansas State quarterback Adrian Martinez from the practice squad.

SEPTEMBER 10: Early-season injuries continue to pile up for the 49ers. Quarterback Brock Purdy is unlikely to be available for San Francisco’s Week 2 contest.

[RELATED: 49ers To Place George Kittle On IR]

Purdy is dealing with a shoulder injury suffered during the team’s season opener along with turf toe. When speaking to the media on Wednesday, head coach Kyle Shanahan said (via Vic Tafur of The Athletic) Purdy will not practice today. More importantly, he added it is currently considered a “long shot” the recently-extended passer will be available on Sunday.

Any missed time in Purdy’s case would of course deal a notable blow to the 49ers’ offense, and it appears this situation may not only entail a one-week absence. Shanahan said (via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport) Purdy could miss multiple games while recovering. For the time being, attention will turn to backup QB Mac Jones and his ability to lead a unit which is notably shorthanded.

Tight end George Kittle will be sidelined for at least the next four weeks due to a hamstring injury. Top receiver Brandon Aiyuk, meanwhile, continues to recover from last year’s ACL and MCL tears; he opened the season on the reserve/PUP list. As a result, Aiyuk will not be available until Week 5 at the earliest. Losing Purdy for any period of time will weaken an offense already lacking its top pass-catching options.

Injuries to Trey Lance and then Jimmy Garoppolo opened the door for Purdy to take over starting duties during his rookie season. The former ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ thrived in the QB1 role, and by the time the 2025 offseason arrived it was clear he was viewed as San Francisco’s preferred option for a long-term commitment. Extension talks resulted a five-year, $265MM deal being worked out in May. Purdy later stated resetting the QB market was not his intention during negotiations.

Still, at an average annual value of $53MM, the 25-year-old’s accord carries substantial expectations. Purdy is on the books through 2030. As such, a cautious approach with respect to his injury rehab on the part of the 49ers can of course be expected.

Jones joined the 49ers in free agency this spring. The former first-rounder failed to duplicate the success of his rookie season with the Patriots, and a trade to the Jaguars allowed for a fresh start in 2024. Jones made seven starts while filling in for the injured Trevor Lawrence, giving him a total of 49 in his career. That figure is now set to increase.

49ers Host QB Mike White; Brock Purdy Facing Multi-Week Absence?

September 12th, 2025 at 10:33am CST by Adam La Rose

SEPTEMBER 12: While Purdy is in danger of missing multiple games, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones writes he is not being moved to injured reserve. An IR stint would ensure at least a four-week absence, but by keeping him on their active roster the 49ers will be able to play him within that span if possible.

SEPTEMBER 11: Brock Purdy has not been officially ruled out for Week 2, but yesterday head coach Kyle Shanahan deemed it a “long shot” the 49ers would have their starting quarterback in place. That could remain the case beyond Sunday.

Shanahan noted Purdy could miss more than one contest while dealing with a form of turf toe along with a shoulder injury. Providing further details on that front, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports an absence between two and five weeks is expected in this case (video link). As a result, backup Mac Jones should be in place for San Francisco’s upcoming game against New Orleans as well as the team’s Week 3 matchup with Arizona.

Should the 49ers view Purdy as a candidate to miss further time, a move to injured reserve could receive consideration. A placement on IR would ensure at least a four-game absence, so it would certainly represent a notable step based on the evaluation of his injury. For now, attention will turn to the matter of swelling in Purdy’s toe and how it heals over the near future.

The 49ers will rely on Jones to lead an offense which is missing George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk for however long Purdy is sidelined. Especially if a multi-week absence is in store, adding quarterback depth would come as no surprise. With that in mind, the team hosted Mike White on a workout Tuesday, per the wire. Shanahan said (via Rapoport’s colleague Tom Pelissero) San Francisco would prefer to add a new signal-caller, although situations at other positions on the roster could make that difficult.

White has 15 appearances and seven starts to his name in the regular season. That includes time with the Jets under then-offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur as well as one season with Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. Both of those staffers have worked for Shanahan with the 49ers, so White represents a familiar option in terms of the team’s scheme despite not playing in San Francisco to date.

The 30-year-old spent 2024 in Buffalo and made one appearance. White took part in a competition with Mitch Trubisky this offseason for the backup gig and he wound up on the losing side of that contest. As a result, the Bills moved on ahead of the deadline for roster cuts. White has remained a free agent into the start of the regular season, but that could change in the near future.

San Francisco has seventh-round rookie Kurtis Rourke on the reserve/NFI list, leaving him unavailable until at least Week 5 (although he is not expected to play this year while rehabbing offseason ACL surgery). Adrian Martinez is on the team’s practice squad as a depth option, but depending on Purdy’s recovery timeline White could be pursued as a more experienced QB2 candidate.

Adrian Martinez To Serve As 49ers’ Backup In Week 2; 49ers Exploring QB Options

September 11th, 2025 at 10:39pm CST by Adam La Rose

As the 49ers prepare for at least one game – but quite possibly more – without Brock Purdy available, their quarterback setup will be worth watching closely. Mac Jones is set to handle starting duties, and an internal option will be relied on to back him up.

San Francisco hosted Mike White this week knowing depth will be needed in the wake of Purdy’s turf toe injury. That ailment has produced a reported recovery timeline of two to five weeks, so Jones will likely be needed beyond Sunday’s game against the Saints. White is not being signed as a backup at this time, however. Instead, Adrian Martinez is set to handle QB2 duties for at least Week 2.

“While Mike has been in our system in the past, Adrian’s been here the last few weeks and he has a good understanding of what we do and how we do it,” general manager John Lynch said (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle) when discussing the team’s short-term quarterback plans.

White has spent time with ex-49ers staffers Mike LaFleur (Jets) and Mike McDaniel (Dolphins), making him a familiar target in terms of head coach Kyle Shanahan‘s scheme. In spite of that, Martinez will get the first chance at serving as the team’s backup. The 2023 UDFA has not yet made a regular season appearance, and this summer he was unable to carve out the third-string role with the Jets. That resulted in Martinez being waived shortly before final roster cuts.

The 2024 UFL MVP was signed to the Seahawks’ practice squad shortly thereafter, but he then joined the 49ers’ taxi squad. Martinez is therefore in position to be promoted to the active roster over the coming days; failing that, he will be one of San Francisco’s gameday elevations for Week 2. In the meantime, the 49ers will continue to explore the market for additions amongst available passers.

“We’ll continue to put ourselves in the best possible situation looking at various opportunities for people,” Lynch added. “But right now, that’s where we’re at.”

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/10/25

September 10th, 2025 at 8:32pm CST by Ely Allen

Wednesday’s taxi squad transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Released from practice squad/injured list (with injury settlement): WR Jalen Reagor

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Washington Commanders

With regular punter Tress Way in danger of missing this week’s Thursday Night matchup in Green Bay with a back injury, Washington has signed the former 49ers veteran as insurance.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/9/25

September 9th, 2025 at 6:44pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Today’s practice squad transactions are highlighted by the release of a veteran running back. Nyheim Hines has been looking to revive his career since he missed the 2023 season thanks to a leg injury sustained in a jet ski collision. Since he was released by the Bills after that campaign, he’s spent time with the Browns and Chargers without getting into a game. A former fourth-round pick, Hines had four productive seasons with the Colts to begin his career, including a 2020 campaign where he compiled 862 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns.

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