Overview
- The San Francisco 49ers officially signed defensive end Jah Joyner, the team announced Thursday, and placed veteran defensive lineman Victor Dimukeje on injured reserve as the corresponding roster move.
- Joyner visited and worked out for the 49ers before the preseason finale after spending the 2026 spring season in the UFL with the Houston Gamblers and a 2025 preseason with the Las Vegas Raiders.
- He is a 6-foot-5, roughly 260-pound edge rusher who recorded 12 sacks in his final two college seasons at Minnesota and drew NFL interest this summer, including a June workout with the Steelers.
- The 49ers plan to give Joyner game snaps in the preseason finale and up to three practices to show he can be a short-term depth piece or a practice-squad candidate as the team finalizes its roster.
- The signing underscores how teams use late-August tryouts and short deals to replace injured or limited edge players and how alternative leagues like the UFL serve as a pathway back to the NFL.