The San Francisco 49ers had roster vacancies to fill after linebacker Reuben Foster was officially waived on Monday and safety Jimmie Ward was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday.
The 49ers filled one spot by promoting linebacker James Onwualu from the practice squad to the active roster, the team announced on Tuesday. They also claimed defensive back Godwin Igwebuike off of waivers from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
San Francisco wasn't finished yet. The team added linebacker Tyrell Adams and wide receiver Max McCaffrey to the practice squad.
The 49ers signed Onwualu to the practice squad on November 19, after the team returned from its bye week and started to prepare for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was one of several players worked out by the 49ers on November 7.
Onwualu entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame and signed with the Los Angeles Chargers on May 1, 2017. He appeared in nine games for Los Angeles last season and registered nine special teams tackles. The Chargers waived Onwualu on August 26.
Onwualu appeared in 48 games over four years (2013-16) with the Fighting Irish and registered 143 combined tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and six sacks. He recorded 75 tackles, a team-high 11.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks during his senior year in 2016.
The Buccaneers signed Igwebuike as an undrafted free agent out of Northwestern University on April 30. Tampa Bay waived him on September 1 and he joined the team's practice squad the next day. Igwebuike appeared in one game after being promoted to the active roster on November 16 but was waived 10 days later.
Adams was among three linebackers worked out by the 49ers on Monday. The Seahawks signed him as an undrafted free agent out of West Georgia in 2015. Adams eventually landed on the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad and then spent time with the Oakland Raiders (2016-17), Buffalo Bills (2017), Indianapolis Colts (2018), and Houston Texans (2018). He registered 20 combined tackles during his NFL career.
McCaffrey, who is the son of former NFL wide receiver Ed McCaffrey and the older brother of Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey, joined the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Oakland Raiders on May 10, 2016. He spent time on the Green Bay Packers practice squad and was briefly on their active roster before a short stint with the New Orleans Saints.
The Jacksonville Jaguars signed McCaffrey off of the Saints practice squad on September 12, 2015, and he appeared in five games with one reception for four yards before being waived on October 21, 2017, and re-joining the Packers practice squad. The 49ers signed McCaffrey to a two-year deal on December 13, 2017, before waiving him on August 29.
McCaffrey had Jones fracture surgery on his foot in August. He did not play during the 49ers' preseason.
