The San Francisco 49ers have signed running back Brandon Wilds to a one-year deal, the team announced today. He spent the 2016 offseason with the Atlanta Falcons when 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was the offensive coordinator there.
San Francisco is currently without running backs Jerick McKinnon (knee) and Jeff Wilson (calf).
The 49ers waived safety Tyree Robinson in a corresponding move. Robinson initially signed with the 49ers as a free agent on December 11, 2018. He was inactive for the team's final three games of last season.
The 49ers kick off their preseason tonight against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium.
The 49ers Communications staff provided the following rundown on Wilds.
Wilds (6-0, 220) originally entered the NFL after signing with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted rookie free agent on May 6, 2016. He was waived/injured by Atlanta on September 3, 2016, and then signed to the New York Jets practice squad on September 26, 2016. On December 7, 2016, he was promoted to the Jets active roster where he appeared in four games and registered 10 carries for 27 yards in addition to two receptions for 20 yards. Wilds was waived by the Jets on July 27, 2017, claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Browns on July 28, 2017, and was later placed on the Injured Reserve List on September 3, 2017. He was then waived by the Browns on September 12, 2017, and was signed to the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad on October 10, 2017, where he spent the remainder of the season.
Wilds signed a Reserve/Future contract with the Jaguars on January 22, 2018. He began the season on the team's practice squad and was later promoted to the active roster on September 15, 2018, where he saw action in three games and registered six carries for 15 yards prior to being waived on October 9, 2018. Wilds was signed to the Arizona Cardinals practice squad on October 15, 2018, where he spent the remainder of the season. After signing a Reserve/Future contract with Arizona on December 31, 2018, he was waived by the team on May 13, 2019.
A 26-year-old native of Blythewood, SC, Wilds attended the University of South Carolina where he appeared in 41 games (20 starts) and registered 379 carries for 1,844 yards and 13 touchdowns in addition to 59 receptions for 540 yards and three touchdowns.