On Saturday, the San Francisco 49ers announced the following roster moves ahead of Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears:
- Placed RB Jordan Mason on IR (injured reserve)
- Activated S Talanoa Hufanga from IR
- Placed S George Odum on IR
- Promoted OL Sebastian Gutierrez from the team's practice squad
- Activated LB Jalen Graham from the practice squad (standard elevation)
- Activated RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn from the practice squad (standard elevation)
Mason filled in admirably as the 49ers starting running back while Christian McCaffrey was out. Before his shoulder injury, Mason was one of the leading rushers in the league. But he sustained a high ankle sprain last week and will likely miss the rest of the season. Mason finished 2024 with 789 yards rushing, despite missing time with injuries, and losing his starting role when McCaffrey returned. Mason scored three touchdowns and averaged 5.2 yards per rushing attempt.
Hufanga suffered an ACL tear last season and missed much of the 2023 season. He has appeared in only two games this season. In those two games, the former All-Pro safety injured his ankle and wrist, landing him on IR yet again. But his practice window was opened recently, and Hufanga has a chance to play on Sunday. The 49ers' defense has struggled to stop the run lately, so Hufanga would be a welcomed addition.
Odum was listed as a non-participant during Thursday's practice and has now been placed on IR with a knee injury. The veteran safety is one of the 49ers' best special teams players, and for a team that has been bad in that part of the game all season, losing Odum could be another big blow.
Gutierrez has appeared in one game for the 49ers this season, playing only on special teams. He started the season with the 49ers but was released and added to the Cleveland Browns practice squad. After the Browns released him, he was added to the Indianapolis Colts practice squad. The Colts released Gutierrez in late November and the 49ers soon brought him back to their practice squad before promoting him to the active roster.
Graham is being elevated for the third time this season. The second-year linebacker has mostly played on special teams in 2024 but has logged 13 snaps on defense for the 49ers. Most of those snaps came last week when LB Fred Warner left the field with an injury.
Vaughn has not appeared in a game this season. The 49ers signed him to their practice squad in August, but he has been on and off the team's practice squad throughout the season. With Mason and Christian McCaffrey now on IR, the 49ers will be counting on rookie RB Isaac Guerendo, Patrick Taylor, Jr., Israel Abanikanda, and Vaughn to carry the load the rest of the way.
The 49ers have also officially downgraded DL Nick Bosa and OL Aaron Banks from questionable to out for Sunday's game. The game will be at Levi's Stadium and features two teams that have been struggling. The 49ers (5-7) and Bears (4-8) will kick off at 1:25 pm local time.