The 49ers have trimmed their active roster down to 53 players, but they still need to decide which players will make up their 16-man practice squad for the 2022 season.
With practice squads expanded to 16 last year, teams have greater flexibility to stash potential difference-makers, and picking the right players is critical given the impact injuries to the 53-man group consistently have on a season.
The practice squad can be filled with released players who cleared waivers or chose not to sign with another team as well as free agents let go by other clubs. Only six of the 16 can have more than two accrued NFL seasons.
Teams can sign players to their practice squad at 1:00pm Pacific Time but reports tend to emerge beforehand. Follow along as we keep you up to date with the practice squad signings for San Francisco.
DB Tayler Hawkins
Rookie safety Tayler Hawkins also intends to sign to the 49ers practice squad, per source. (I’m being weasily with the language because these aren’t done deals yet).
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) August 31, 2022
WR Willie Snead
The #49ers are re-signing veteran WR Willie Snead to the practice squad, source said.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 31, 2022
LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball
#49ers intend to sign rookie LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball to the practice squad, per source. McCrary-Ball likely would be the first guy elevated to the 53 in the event of an injury at LB.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) August 31, 2022
OL Jason Poe
G Jason Poe went unclaimed on waivers. He plans to sign to the 49ers practice squad, per source.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) August 31, 2022
DB Qwuantrezz Knight
#49ers have signed undrafted rookie CB Qwuantrezz Knight to their practice squad, per his agent, Josh Escovedo. Knight was waived Tuesday.
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) August 31, 2022