San Francisco prioritized specialist depth and George Kittle’s healthy return by shifting the versatile tight end to the practice squad, ensuring roster flexibility ahead of the Rams clash.
The San Francisco 49ers officially waived tight end Brayden Willis ahead of their Week 1 opener against the Los Angeles Rams. The move cleared a spot on the 53 man active roster for 40 year old veteran long snapper Jon Weeks, who was promoted from the practice squad following initial roster procedural moves.
After making the 16 hour flight to Melbourne, Australia, Willis went unclaimed on the NFL transaction wire. Because he passed through waivers, he became an unrestricted free agent, paving the way for San Francisco to re-sign him to their practice squad without having to clear an existing spot. Per reports, Willis remained in Australia with the team and is expected to continue practicing with the squad.
With Willis staying in Melbourne on the practice squad, Shanahan retains a versatile, scheme-ready backup option without using a valuable active 53 man roster spot. That flexibility allows San Francisco to elevate him on game days if Kyle Juszczyk needs a breather or if special teams coverage requires an extra physical body. Ultimately, navigating these procedural moves Down Under ensures the 49ers keep key roster depth intact while maximizing specialist reliability for their Week 1 clash against the Rams.
Versatility and Long-Term Value
Selected in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma, Willis has operated primarily as a core special teams player. Over three seasons in San Francisco, he has logged 23 career games and over 350 special teams snaps.
While his offensive passing game production has been limited, Willis offers valuable positional flexibility:
- Fullback Insurance: During the 2026 preseason, Willis lined up at fullback on 15 snaps. With 35 year old starter Kyle Juszczyk working his way back from a broken finger, Willis provides a backup option out of the backfield if Juszczyk needs to be managed or misses time.
- Special Teams Utility: Should Juszczyk miss time, having Willis on the game day roster allows San Francisco to cover both fullback duties and special teams coverage units seamlessly.
The George Kittle Indicator
Beyond procedural gymnastics, waiving Willis serves as a clear vote of confidence in starter George Kittle.
Kittle, recovering from a torn Achilles suffered in last season's wild card round, made the trip to Melbourne and progressed to full team practice reps. San Francisco’s front office would not have risked releasing tight end depth during a game week in Australia without total clarity regarding Kittle’s availability. With Kittle cleared to return alongside backup tight ends Luke Farrell and Jake Tonges, the 49ers had the flexibility to execute the roster swap, ensuring Jon Weeks is active while keeping Willis in the fold on the practice squad.
