The running back-needy San Francisco 49ers are signing veteran ball-carrier Brian Hill to the practice squad, per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.
Source: The #49ers have added veteran RB Brian Hill. He has 209 career rushing attempts for 982 yards (4.7 average) with three touchdowns, mostly with Atlanta. He also has 38 receptions for 313 yards and one touchdown. He's an option to be available for Sunday's game.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) December 8, 2021
San Francisco later announced that the team released safety Tony Jefferson to make room on the practice squad.
The Atlanta Falcons made Hill (6-1, 219) a fifth-round selection out of Wyoming in 2017. He was among three running backs worked out by the 49ers this week.
As noted by Maiocco, Hill, 26, has 982 rushing yards on 209 attempts with three rushing touchdowns while adding 313 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown on 38 catches in 45 game appearances and three starts throughout his NFL career with the Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals.
Hill's best statistical season came in 2020 during his second and lengthiest stint with the Falcons when he registered 465 rushing yards and a touchdown in 100 carries through 16 game appearances and one start.
Before Hill's signing, JaMycal Hasty was the only healthy running back on the 49ers' roster. Elijah Mitchell and Trenton Cannon are in the concussion protocol. Jeff Wilson Jr. is dealing with a flare-up in the same knee that sustained an injury this offseason. Trey Sermon is on injured reserve due to an ankle injury.