The San Francisco 49ers announced the following roster moves ahead of the team's Week 5 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.
- LB Tyrell Adams, TE Jordan Matthews, WR Connor Wedington were signed to the practice squad.
- LB Curtis Bolton, RB Kerryon Johnson, and RB Chris Thompson were released from the practice squad.
- K Joey Slye was signed to a one-year deal.
- K Robbie Gould was placed on injured reserve.
The 49ers re-signed Matthews as tight end George Kittle continues to deal with a calf injury and is considered to be day-to-day. Kittle was active and played in Week 4's loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
San Francisco parting ways with Johnson and Thompson could be a sign of confidence that running back Elijah Mitchell might be available this weekend.
Kicker Robbie Gould is expected to miss three to five weeks after suffering a groin injury during pre-game preparations this past weekend. The signing of Slye was first reported earlier today by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Ian Rapoport first reported Gould heading to injured reserve.
In addition to the kickers mentioned earlier today, the 49ers worked out or visited with the following players.
- LB Tyrell Adams (signed)
- DB Tony Jefferson
- WR Austin Mack
- LS Garrison Sanborn
- WR Connor Wedington (signed)
- WR Isaiah Wright
The 49ers Communications staff provided the following rundown.
Slye (5-11, 213) originally entered the NFL after signing with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent on May 6, 2019. Following his release from the Giants on July 27, 2019, he went on to sign with the Carolina Panthers on August 1, 2019. Throughout his three-year career with the Panthers (2019-20) and Houston Texans (2021), he has made 58 of 73 career field goal attempts (79.5-percent) and 71 of 79 extra-point attempts (89.9-percent).
In 2021, Slye appeared in three games for the Texans after being elevated from the team's practice squad where he made four of five field-goal attempts and seven of eight extra-point attempts. He was released by Houston on September 30, 2021.
A 25-year-old native of Stafford, VA, Slye attended Virginia Tech (2014-17) where he appeared in 51 games and connected on 78 of 107 field-goal attempts and 169 of 172 extra-point attempts.
Adams (6-1, 228) originally entered the NFL after signing with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2015. He later spent time with the Oakland Raiders (2016-17) and Houston Texans (2019-20) where he saw action in 37 games (14 starts) and registered 150 tackles, four passes defensed, three forced fumbles, 2.0 sacks, and one fumble recovery. He has also appeared in four postseason contests.
In 2020, Adams appeared in 16 games (12 starts) for the Texans and finished the season with 122 tackles, four passes defensed, 2.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. He then signed with the Buffalo Bills on March 31, 2021, and was released by the team on August 24.
A 29-year-old native of Atlanta, GA, Adams attended the University of West Georgia. In four years with the Wolves (2011-14), he appeared in 44 games and tallied 220 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Matthews (6-3, 236) was signed to San Francisco's practice squad on September 1, 2021, and was released by the team on September 22.
Wedington (6-0, 200) originally entered the NFL after signing with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent on May 14, 2021. He was waived by the Seahawks on August 31, signed to Seattle's practice squad on September 15, and later released by the team on September 28.
A 24-year-old native of Sumner, WA, Wedington attended Stanford University (2017-20), where he appeared in 31 games (14 starts) and registered 106 receptions for 971 yards and one touchdown on offense to go along with 25 kickoff returns for 685 yards and four punt returns for 24 yards on special teams.