In addition to increasing NFL practice squads to 16 players this season, teams can protect four of those players each week from being signed to other rosters. NFL teams can also elevate practice squad players to the active roster up to 90 minutes before kickoff.

The following four players are the practice squad members who the San Francisco 49ers plan to protect heading into their Week 1 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on Sunday, according to ESPN.



These players will return to their unprotected status after Sunday's game, and the 49ers will have until next Tuesday at 1 p.m. PT to declare four new (or repeat) players to protect.

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