Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
The San Francisco 49ers announced the following roster moves today.
- Linebacker Joe Walker has been promoted from the practice squad to the active roster
- Linebacker Jonas Griffith has been signed to the practice squad
The following rundown was provided by the 49ers Communications staff.
Walker (6-2, 236) originally signed with the team as a free agent on March 24, 2020. He was released by the team on September 5, 2020, and signed to the team's practice squad the following day. Walker was activated from the team's practice squad for two games this season.
Walker was originally drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round (251st overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft. In four NFL seasons with the Eagles (2016-17) and Arizona Cardinals (2018-19), Walker appeared in 42 games (14 starts) and registered 82 tackles, one pass defensed, one forced fumble and 18 special teams tackles.
A 27-year-old native of Palos Verdes Estates, CA, Walker attended the University of Oregon, where he appeared in 40 games (21 starts) and finished with 205 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, three fumble recoveries (two returned for a touchdown), two passes defensed and one interception. As a senior in 2015, he started all 12 games and led the Ducks with 87 tackles and two fumble recoveries (one returned for a touchdown).
Walker will wear number 59.
Griffith (6-4, 250) originally signed with the team as an undrafted rookie free agent on April 28, 2020, and was waived on August 21. He was then signed Indianapolis Colts practice squad on October 7, 2020, and was released on October 13.
A 23-year-old native of Louisville, KY, Griffith attended Indiana State University, where he played in 44 games (34 starts) in five years (2015-19) and recorded 382 tackles, 50.0 tackles for loss, 14.0 sacks, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and two interceptions. In 2019, he was named First-Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference and earned MVFC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award as well as MVFC Academic Honor Roll accolades after starting all 12 games and registering 106 tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
The San Francisco 49ers have activated rookie defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw from the reserve/COVID-19 list. The team also announced that it has signed wide receiver Jordan Matthews to the practice squad. To make room for Matthews, the 49ers have released wide receiver Chris Finke from the practice squad.
Matthews worked out for the team earlier this week. The veteran wideout spent last offseason and part of the 2019 regular season with the 49ers.
Kinlaw's activation leaves six 49ers players on the reserve/COVID-19 list. They are listed below.
WR Brandon Aiyuk
TE Daniel Helm
DT D.J. Jones
LB Joe Walker
T Trent
The San Francisco 49ers announced today that the team has removed tight end Daniel Helm from the reserve/COVID-19 list, and released him from the practice squad.
Helm was the last remaining 49ers player on the reserve/COVID-19 list. On Wednesday, the team activated three players — wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and defensive linemen D.J. Jones and Jordan Willis — from the reserve/COVID-19
Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon has found himself among the San Francisco 49ers' inactive players for the last three games. It wasn't because of any injury either. He was last active on November 1, when all of his snaps came on special teams. That's not a good vote of confidence in the former defensive starter and impending free agent.
Witherspoon's game status could be different on Monday night against the Buffalo Bills.
"Ahkello definitely has a chance to get up this week," head coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday morning on KNBR's Murph & Mac show. "I expect him to. I mean, a lot of that has been special-teams decisions. We lost two guys, our starting nickel. Then we lost Ken Webster, who was a special-teams player, and he was getting up over Ahkello
