According to the NFL transaction wire, the San Francisco 49ers protected the following three practice squad players ahead of Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium.
- RB Brian Hill
- QB Nate Sudfeld
- DB Jarrod Wilson
NFL teams can protect up to four practice squad players per week from being signed by other teams. In addition, teams can elevate up to two practice squad players to the active roster before 1 p.m. PT the day before a game. Doing so will not require removing others from the active roster, and the players will revert back to the practice squad following the game.
Cornerback Saivion Smith, who the 49ers waived on Monday, was claimed by the Detroit Lions. He was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster before this past weekend's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. San Francisco likely planned to add Smith back to the team's practice squad had he cleared waivers.