The 49ers on Wednesday announced a handful of roster moves as they begin their on-field playoff preparations. Most of the movement came on the practice squad where defensive backs Tayler Hawkins and Jason Verrett were placed on IR. To replace them on the practice roster the 49ers added defensive lineman Sam Okuayinonu and cornerback Terrence Mitchell. San Francisco also opened the practice window for safety and special teams ace George Odum.
Hawkins hurt his wrist late in the 49ers’ Week 18 loss to the Rams. Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Wednesday said Hawkins would need surgery. Now he’s on IR with his season likely over.
Verrett suffered a shoulder injury in the lead up to Week 18 that also required surgery. He’s also done for the year following his placement on IR.
As for the additions. Okuayinonu gives the team some in-house depth on the defensive front. He’s in his second NFL season and appeared in six games last year with the Titans as an undrafted rookie from the University of Maryland. Okuayinonu posted 0.5 sacks and 11 tackles. He’d yet to appear in a game this year after being waived by Tennessee in January.
Mitchell will be a familiar face for close followers of the 49ers. He was briefly with the team in training camp. The eight-year veteran was a seventh-round pick of the Cowboys in the 2014 draft out of Oregon and spent time on six teams during his career. Mitchell has 94 NFL games under his belt with 56 starts. He’s posted 305 tackles, 1.0 sacks, 63 pass breakups and nine interceptions.
