The San Francisco 49ers announced the following roster moves as the team prepares for its Week 8 road matchup against the Chicago Bears.
- S Tony Jefferson signed to the practice squad
- DE Jordan Willis activated from the reserve/suspended list
Jefferson spent part of the offseason with the 49ers but landed on injured reserve on August 12 due to a hamstring injury. He was released with an injury settlement on August 23.
Jefferson, 29, has not played since Week 5 of the 2019 season when he suffered a torn ACL.
49ers starting safety Jaquiski Tartt exited Sunday's game with a knee injury.
In June, the league suspended Willis for six games for violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances. He became eligible to return to the team today.
Willis, 26, has recorded 65 tackles, 5.5 sacks, a pass defensed, and a forced fumble through his four NFL seasons.
The 49ers Communications staff provided the following rundown.
Jefferson (5-11, 211) originally entered the NFL after signing with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2013. Throughout his seven-year career with the Cardinals (2013-16) and Baltimore Ravens (2017-19), he has appeared in 98 games (66 starts) and registered 434 tackles, 22 passes defensed, 8.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and four interceptions (one returned for a touchdown). Jefferson has also started four postseason contests and added 34 tackles and two passes defensed. He was released by the Ravens on February 14, 2020. Jefferson signed with the 49ers on June 7, 2021, and was later released by the team on August 23.
A 29-year-old native of Chula Vista, CA, Jefferson attended the University of Oklahoma for three years (2010-12), where he appeared in 40 games (34 starts) and registered 258 tackles, 18.0 tackles for loss, 13 passes defensed, eight interceptions, and 7.0 sacks. As a junior in 2012, he earned Associated Press Second-Team All-America honors after finishing with a team-high 119 tackles.
