The 49ers released defensive lineman Naquan Jones, the team announced Tuesday. Per Pro Football Talk and Yahoo Sports, that is the whole announcement. The details come from Tom Pelissero, who is now at The Ringer.
Pelissero reported that Jones is a veteran and does not have to pass through waivers. NFL Trade Rumors, which carried that point, said it could mean roster juggling given San Francisco's injuries. It did not say which injuries. Niners Nation, citing Pelissero, said the 49ers made the move to create a roster spot but did not name a player for that spot. NFL Trade Rumors listed Jones as a 28-year-old who went undrafted out of Michigan State in April 2021.
Niners Nation tied the timing to Dre Greenlaw, whose suspension is over, so he will return to the roster. The NFL officially lifted it. That outlet did not say Jones's release was made to fit Greenlaw. Pelissero's report, as relayed, left the spot unassigned. Greenlaw has played five games this season and has 37 tackles, 18 of them solo, 19 assisted, and one forced fumble. He has no sacks.
Jones was a minor part of the defense. He appeared in two games for San Francisco this season and had two tackles in total, one against Arizona on Sept. 27 and one against Denver on Oct. 4. He had no sacks and did not play in the last two games. In the preseason he had a sack against the Chargers and four tackles at Carolina. Among 49ers defenders, Jones's two tackles are among the lowest totals on our roster list. The line's sacks have come mostly from Keion White with three, plus Gracen Halton and Osa Odighizuwa with two each.
The release comes while the team is winning. San Francisco is 6-0, first in the NFC West, and has won six straight. The latest win was 23-17 over Washington on Monday night. Before that came 32-29 at Seattle and 24-14 over Denver. The team has not needed Jones in the games that decided those results.
The 49ers' next game is Sunday at Atlanta. The roster spot Pelissero described should be filled by then. The outlets did not say whether it will be Greenlaw or someone else, and they did not say whether any other roster move is coming.
Discussion