49ers release DL Cedric Thornton, announce other roster moves

The San Francisco 49ers announced that the team has released defensive lineman Cedric Thornton. The team also officially announced the signings of offensive lineman Dillon Day and tight end Niles Paul, which were reported earlier.

Here is the report on Day:
49ers signing center Dillon Day, says John Lynch

Here is the report on Paul:
49ers sign veteran tight end Niles Paul, per report

Thornton retired from the NFL on August 22, 2018, and then unretired on April 15, automatically reverting back to the 49ers' active roster.

Thornton initially signed with the 49ers on July 25, 2018. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011. Throughout his seven seasons with the Eagles (2011-15), Dallas Cowboys (2016), and Buffalo Bills (2017), Thornton appeared in 89 games with 48 starts and registered 278 tackles, 7.5 sacks, six passes defensed, four fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles. He appeared in 15 games with three starts during his season with the Buffalo Bills in 2017.

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The 49ers Communications staff provided the following rundown on Day and Paul.

Day (6-4, 296) originally entered the NFL after signing with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted rookie free agent on May 8, 2015. After spending both the 2015 and 2016 seasons on Denver's practice squad, he began the 2017 season on the Broncos practice squad before being promoted to their active roster on October 21, 2017. He was waived by the Broncos on October 24, 2017, and was claimed off of waivers by the Indianapolis Colts on October 25, 2017. Day was inactive for two games with the Colts before he was waived on November 6, 2017. He was re-signed to Denver's practice squad on November 8, 2017, and was later signed to the Green Bay Packers active roster on December 20, 2017, where he did not see game action. In 2018, he spent training camp with the Packers and was later waived on September 1, 2018.

A 27-year-old native of West Monroe, LA, Day attended Mississippi State University (2011-14), where he appeared in 51 games (46 starts). As a senior in 2014, he started 12 games at center for the Bulldogs.

Paul (6-1, 242) was originally drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fifth round (155th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft. Throughout his eight-year career with the Redskins (2011-17) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2018), he has appeared in 88 games (27 starts) and registered 78 receptions for 954 yards and two touchdowns.