On Saturday, the San Francisco 49ers announced the following roster moves ahead of their Sunday Night clash with the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium:
- Activated TE George Kittle from IR (injured reserve)
- Activated DT Kevin Givens from IR
- Promoted DE Trevis Gipson to the active roster
- Elevated WR Malik Turner from the team's practice squad (standard elevation)
- Elevated OL Nick Zakelj from the practice squad (standard elevation)
- Placed LB Fred Warner on IR
- Waived TE Brayden Willis
Kittle has missed most of this season with a torn hamstring. The star tight end was on the field for 21 snaps in week one against the Seattle Seahawks before leaving with the injury. In those snaps, Kittle had four catches for 25 yards and a touchdown. His return will not only help the 49ers' passing game but also the team's struggling run game.
Givens, who was placed on IR on August 26 due to a pectoral injury, has not appeared in a game this season. Last year, Givens appeared in eight games with the 49ers, starting one. He finished the season with 3.5 sacks and six QB hits.
Gipson has appeared in two games this season. In his first game, he recovered a fumble on one of his first snaps with his new team. The six-year veteran has 11 career sacks, but so far, none this season.
This is Turner's third time being elevated in 2025. In his previous two games, he played 21 snaps, with only seven coming on offense. Turner was targeted once against the Los Angeles Rams, but has no catches on the season. Since this is Turner's third time being elevated, the 49ers must decide what to do with him after the game. For him to appear in another game, the team would have to sign him to the active roster.
Zakelj has yet to be active in any game this season. The 49ers waived the fourth-year offensive lineman in August, but brought him back to the practice squad. Zakelj appeared in all 17 games last season, starting two of them.
Warner left the game last Sunday in Tampa with a fractured and dislocated ankle. He will miss the rest of the season. There is some hope that Warner could potentially be available if the 49ers make it to the Super Bowl. Regardless, the future Hall of Fame linebacker is expected to be fully recovered in time for the offseason program in 2026.
Willis is in his third season out of Oklahoma. He has played in five games this season, mostly on special teams. Willis had one pass come his way this season, but still does not have a catch in his career.
In other news, the NFL fined 49ers LT Trent Williams $11,593 for unnecessary roughness for an incident last week against the Buccaneers following a late-game interception.