The San Francisco 49ers announced several roster moves on Wednesday. The team has officially placed defensive linemen Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas on injured reserve, signed Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah to a one-year deal, and promoted defensive lineman Dion Jordan from the practice squad.
The 49ers also signed defensive lineman Alex Barrett and running back Austin Walter to the practice squad.
Bosa sustained his injury during the first quarter of Sunday's game against the New York Jets. He needed to be carted to the locker room for further tests. Two plays later, Thomas went down with his injury. He too needed to be carted to the locker room.
San Francisco made Thomas the No. 3 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He has registered 95 tackles, 23 quarterback hits, and six sacks in his four NFL seasons, according to Pro Football Reference. That includes his two tackles this season.
Thomas is in the final year of his rookie contract.
The 49ers made Bosa the No. 2 overall pick last year. He racked up 47 tackles, nine sacks, 25 quarterback hits, an interception, two passes defensed, and a forced fumble during his first NFL season on his way to being named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Bosa added four more sacks during the playoffs.
Shanahan was asked on Monday what the team can do to make up for the loss of Bosa.
"You can't do it with one guy. Everyone's got to step it up," Shanahan responded. "Everyone knows how great of a player Nick is. Teams do go through this. ... Yeah, when you lose a great guy like that, it's tough. But, you can look in our rooms and stuff and know that we've still got a lot of guys out there who can go play good football and give us a chance to win every game that we show up for."
Bosa was the highest-graded (84.9) defensive player on the 49ers roster, according to Pro Football Focus.
The 49ers Communications staff provided the following rundown.
Ansah (6-5, 275) spent six seasons (2013-18) with the Detroit Lions after the team selected him in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft. With the Lions, he appeared in 80 regular season games (73 starts) and registered 218 tackles, 48.0 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two passes defensed. His 48.0 sacks are the fourth-most in Lions history. Ansah also started two postseason contests, adding 11 tackles and 3.0 sacks with Detroit. In 2015, Ansah was named Associated Press Second-Team All-Pro and earned Pro Bowl honors after finishing the season ranked third in the NFL with a career-high 14.5 sacks.
Last season, Ansah signed with the Seattle Seahawks on May 10, 2019, and went on to appear in 11 games (one start) and record 18 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two passes defensed. He also appeared in one postseason contest and added one tackle.
A 31-year-old native of Accra, Ghana, Ansah attended Brigham Young University, where he appeared in 31 games (nine starts) and finished with 72 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 10 passes defensed.
Ansah will wear number 98.
Jordan (6-6, 275) was originally drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the first round (third overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft. Throughout his seven-year career with Miami (2013-16), the Seattle Seahawks (2017-18) and Oakland Raiders (2019), he has appeared in 50 games (four starts) and registered 82 tackles, 10.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and five passes defensed. In 2019 with Oakland, he appeared in seven games and finished with five tackles, 2.0 sacks and one pass defensed. He signed with the 49ers as a free agent on August 7, 2020, was released by the team on September 5 and signed to the team's practice squad the following day.
A 30-year-old native of Chandler, AZ, Jordanspent five years (2008-12) at the University of Oregon. He appeared in 45 games (25 starts) at Oregon where he transitioned from tight end to defensive end and finished his career with 121 tackles, 14.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and two passes defensed. As a senior in 2012, Jordan made 12 starts and registered 44 tackles, 5.0 sacks, three forced fumbles and one pass defensed while earning First-Team All-Pac-12 honors.
Jordan will wear number 96.
Barrett (6-2, 250) was originally signed to the 49ers practice squad on November 27, 2019, where he spent the remainder of the season. He re-signed with San Francisco on February 10, 2020, was waived on July 30, re-signed by the team on August 2 and later waived on August 13. Barrett re-signed with the team on August 30 and was waived on September 5.
A 26-year-old native of Mesa, AZ, Barrett attended San Diego State University where he appeared in 50 games (38 starts) and registered 169 tackles, 19.0 sacks, eight passes defensed, three forced fumbles and two interceptions.
Walter (5-8, 202) originally entered the NFL after signing with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent on May 6, 2019. He spent training camp with the team and was later waived on August 31, 2019. He then signed to the New York Giants practice squad on September 18, 2019. Walter was promoted to the Giants active roster on October 10, 2019, appeared in one game and was later waived on October 14, 2019.
Walter spent time in the XFL with the Dallas Renegades in 2020 where he appeared in five games and registered four carries for 19 yards and two receptions for 31 yards.
A 24-year-old native of Crosby, TX, Walter attended Rice University where he appeared in 49 games (four starts) during his four-year career with the Owls and registered 345 carries for 1,744 yards and 13 touchdowns to go along with 79 receptions for 803 yards and five touchdowns through the air. He also added 71 kickoff returns for 1,548 yards (21.8 average).
Bosa (6-4, 266) started in each of the team's first two games of the season and registered six tackles and one forced fumble, while Thomas (6-3, 280) also started the first two games and added two tackles.
