The San Francisco 49ers have a vacant roster spot after waiving kicker Chase McLaughlin on Tuesday. The team will, at least for now, fill that vacancy by re-signing defensive back Antone Exum Jr., according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic.
I write "at least for now" because Barrows reported on Tuesday night that the 49ers were opening up the practice window for defensive lineman Kentavius Street, who could be activated as early as this week for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints. He was placed on injured reserve on September 1 with a knee injury.
Update: The 49ers officially announced the signing of Exum to a one-year deal and Street's practice window being opened.
The 49ers are getting thinner along the defensive line, having already lost Ronald Blair (ACL) and Damontre Moore (fractured arm) for the season. Jullian Taylor is expected to miss some time with a ligament issue in his elbow, and D.J. Jones (ankle) and Dee Ford (quadricep, hamstring) are banged up.
The Minnesota Vikings made Exum a sixth-round selection out of Virginia Tech in 2014. San Francisco initially signed him on November 7, 2017, and the defensive back was part of the 49ers' 53-player roster cut-down in August. He was re-signed on September 1 and then released on October 2.
Exum recorded two tackles in three games this season with the 49ers. He racked up a career-high 40 tackles, a sack, seven passes defensed, an interception, a touchdown, and a forced fumble through 15 games with seven starts in 2018.
The 49ers may be short a safety this week as starter Jaquiski Tartt deals with a rib injury sustained on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. He is considered day-to-day.