You are probably wondering why the San Francisco 49ers need to release safety Adrian Colbert when he was part of the team's initial 53-player roster cut-down (it also means you didn't read this). The 49ers waived Colbert with an injury designation, he went unclaimed by another NFL team, and then reverted to San Francisco's injured reserve list.
The 49ers on Friday officially parted ways with the former starting safety and 2017 seventh-round pick. The team waived both Colbert and wide receiver Nick Williams, who was also on injured reserve, with injury settlements, according to the NFL transaction wire.
According to the NFL's transaction log, the 49ers reached an injury settlement with S Adrian Colbert and WR Nick Williams.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) September 6, 2019
Colbert could return to the 49ers, but that cannot happen until after Week 5.
San Francisco drafted Colbert out of Miami (FL) in 2017. He registered 21 combined tackles and a pass defensed through seven games and six starts with the 49ers in 2018 before landing on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain on October 22, 2018.
Colbert has recorded 58 combined tackles, six passes defensed, and two forced fumbles through his two NFL seasons.
The 49ers signed Williams to a one-year deal on August 27. He spent time with the Washington Redskins (2013), who initially signed him as an undrafted free agent, Atlanta Falcons (2015-17), Tennessee Titans (2018), and Los Angeles Rams (2018) before his brief time with San Francisco.