Overview
- San Francisco signed defensive lineman Victor Dimukeje and re-signed offensive lineman Nick Zakelj to one-year deals and released running back Khalil Herbert and guard Kion Smith to open roster spots.
- Zakelj had been cut earlier this month after missing practice with an elbow issue and the 49ers brought him back after Smith struggled at right guard in a preseason game.
- Dimukeje is a 2021 sixth-round pick who has appeared in about 60 NFL games, logged 51 career tackles and 4.0 sacks, and is joining camp to re-establish his role after reduced snaps since 2023.
- Coaches added the veterans to give more bodies for preseason snaps while protecting primary players from heavy work, a need made sharper by limited use of starters and recent injuries on the defensive front.
- These are routine training-camp roster adjustments that will shape competition for final spots over the next two weeks and directly affect playing time and job security for the players released and signed.