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Kyle Shanahan explains why the 49ers released Greg Joseph after ‘really close’ competition

2025-08-04T13:54:34-07:00

Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images

Ultimately, Greg Joseph was caught up in a numbers game that he had no control over

Over the weekend, San Francisco 49ers special teams coordinator Brant Boyer was asked how the kicker competition was going. Boyer said Jake Moody and Greg Joseph were “really close” and “there’s not a ton of separation” between the two:

“Well, I think they’re really close. I think that they’re both doing a great job. There’s not a ton of separation there. Both of them rebounded from some days that they could have kicked better, and I thought they kicked pretty solid today. It’s just a matter of who’s going to execute when the game comes down to it, and they’re competing. They’re doing everything we’re asking them to do, and we’re looking forward to see how it’s going to shake out.”

Joseph got caught up in a numbers game and was released Monday morning. Head coach Kyle Shanahan pointed to the lack of depth on the roster for Joseph’s release:

“More of just roster numbers. I would’ve loved to keep him longer, allowed them to play that out longer, but, we just had 13 guys out of practice today, we had five guys on PUP. It’s just too many people to have that luxury.

It’s awesome to have two kickers and allow them to battle. But they are not guys who take reps. We need more people to take reps for us.”

The 49ers suffered quite a few injuries over the past few days, so the need to bring in bodies was justified, making Joseph expendable. Still, in Shanahan’s mind, the kicking competition isn’t necessarily over:

“I mean, he’s not here, but whether you have one kicker in the building or two, and you rarely have two, kickers always know they’re competing with whoever is out there. So, I don’t see it much different.”

Boyer spoke about how meaningful the relationship between a kicker and the holder is when it comes to mental confidence. Moody has been around longer, so he’s had a chance to work with whichever holder has been in the building during his time — generally it’s the backup quarterback, so maybe not — which would also give Moody the advantage.

Boyer also said, “It’s just a matter of who’s going to execute when the game comes down to it.” So, if Moody struggles during the preseason, we might see Joseph added back to the roster or the 49ers continue to shuffle their options at kicker.

Ideally, none of this matters, and the 49ers don’t settle for long field goals when they are in their opponents’ territory.

Training Camp Winners & Losers from Day 10: Injuries continue to mount

2025-08-04T12:36:33-07:00

Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

The 49ers can’t afford any more injuries

The San Francisco 49ers returned CB Deommodore Lenoir (hip) and RB Jordan James to practice on Monday, which is good news as both position groups were getting very thin. About an hour before practice began, the team announced the signing of UFL DE Bradlee Anae. In addition to Anae, the team added DL Bruce Hector, CB Fabian Moreau, OL Isaiah Prince, and brought back S Jaylen Mahoney.

#UFL ➡️ #NFL

Bradlee Anae ✍️

• Signed w/ SF
• Led UFL w/ 23.2% pass rush win rate
• Led w/ 91.7 pass rush grade in true pass sets
• Top 5 in pressures w/ 33
• Top 5 in hurries w/ 23
• Had 17 tckls, 6 TFL, & 5 sacks

Congrats, @BradleeAnae!#FTTB x #GiddyUp pic.twitter.com/WKNCSxxNOq
— SAVE THE STALLIONS ️ ️ ️ (@SOTStallions) August 4, 2025

The 49ers shocked many by releasing K Greg Joseph, which effectively ends the kicker competition, as well as by waiving QB Tanner Mordecai, TE Mason Pline, CB Tre Avery, and WR Isaiah Neyor. Nick Bosa, Trent Williams, and Christian McCaffrey were given vet days off on Monday. FB Kyle Juszczyk (day to day, Achilles was stepped on) and RB Isaac Guerendo (shoulder) were not seen at practice after sustaining injuries on Saturday. Guerendo will miss a few weeks. DT Kevin Givens did not participate and Kyle Shanahan said he may return during the season with a pectoral injury. DE Sam Okuayinonu will miss a cuple of weeks with a groin injury.

DL Yetur Gross-Matos was seen doing some sprinting on the field for the first time in training camp, per David Lombardi of The SF Standard. RT Colton McKivitz returned to practice also.

Winners

Ricky Pearsall

The positive reports continue for the second-year receiver. Pearsall routinely won every matchup during one-on-ones and team period. The upcoming joint practices with the Denver Broncos will be imperative for Pearsall as he faces off against Patrick Surtain II and Jahdae Barron. Still, the encouraging reports about his play in training camp will no doubt instill hope from the coaching staff and fan base. The only blemish on Pearsall’s record today was a PBU from Upton Stout.

Jake Moody

With the team releasing Joseph, it’s a good sign for the third-round kicker. ESPN’s Nick Wagoner isn’t convinced the competition is over, citing the need for more position players ahead of their preseason opener this weekend. Joseph likely won’t be signed so there is a chance for a return, but for now Moody looks primed to begin the season as the primary kicker. It’s a good thing too, cutting Moody for a kicker off the street would be even more of an indictment of the selection of a kicker in the draft. Kyle Shanahan confirmed Joseph’s release was due to “roster numbers.”

Ben Bartch

Over the weekend, OL coach Chris Foerster said the left guard job is Bartch’s to lose. Bartch returned from injury, and stepped right back into the starting spot, and early in August it appears the 49ers offensive line is set and can start the process of gelling as a group. In limited action last season, Bartch played well, and is set to carry that momentum into the regular season.

Losers

The 49er injury report

The injuries are mounting. The team is already without WR Jauan Jennings, CB Renardo Green, and WR Jacob Cowing. Shanahan revealed today the injuries and timelines for Guerendo, Givens, Okuayinonu, and Juszczyk. The 49ers are literally limping into the joint practices with Denver. Shanahan said the team will have to be smart and will script the practices with Denver HC Sean Payton. The goal needs to be leaving the practices as healthy as possible.

49ers injury updates: The running back room suffers another injury

2025-08-04T12:21:45-07:00

Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images

Isaac Guerendo will miss a few weeks. Kevin Givens might miss a couple of months. A host of veterans got the day off for the 49ers on Monday.

When San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Jordan James needed to be further evaluated with a knee injury last week, it was easy to take the doom and gloom approach and think worst-case scenario.

Those knee issues that James was dealing with turned out to be minor, as he returned to practice Monday.

#49ers rookie RB Jordan James has returned to practice pic.twitter.com/ZbDUSC0AUU
— (@TheSFNiners) August 4, 2025

James’s return is timely, as Isaac Guerendo and Christian McCaffrey did not practice. McCaffrey has consistently been given days off.

Isaac Guerendo has a shoulder injury and will miss a few weeks. He can’t seem to stay healthy. Safety Ji’Ayir Brown’s ankle “flared up a little.” Shanahan said Brown could return later this week. It was the same ankle Brown had surgery on this offseason.

Newly signed wide receiver Andy Isabella suffered an ankle injury while fielding punts. Isabella did not return or participate in any other drills. Shanahan said he’ll miss a few weeks.

Jauan Jennings remains out with a calf injury. Shanahan clarified that Jennings being out is “definitely health-related, not business-related.” He said the 49ers “gotta be delicate with those calves.”

Right tackle Colton McKivitz had the day off on Saturday. He returned after a rest day. A host of other veterans didn’t practice on Monday, including Nick Bosa, Trent Williams, Kyle Juszczyk, and Kevin Givens. Ji’Ayir Brown and Sam Okuayinonu were also out.

Juszczyk is day-to-day after getting his Achilles stepped on. Kyle Shanahan said Juszczyk was dealing with soreness. Kevin Givens hurt his pec, and he will be out for a while. Shanahan made it seem like Givens will start the season on the PUP list. Sam O has a groin injury. There’s no timetable for his return.

Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir missed the previous block of practices with a hip injury. Lenoir did individual drills on Monday with his pads on. Lenoir resumed his duties as a starter with the first team. When everybody is healthy, the cornerbacks are likely to be Lenoir, Renardo Green, and rookie Upton Stout. With Green sidelined, Dallis Flowers continues to get a look.

Edge rusher Yetur Gross-Matos was seen going through workouts on the side. That’s a good sign, as Gross-Matos ramps up his workouts and gets closer to returning to practice. It’ll be interesting to see what his role will be and how he fits in. Remember, he’s not a Robert Saleh “guy,” so there’s no guarantee for Gross-Matos.

Then again, the depth at defensive tackle is so thin that it makes sense for Gross-Matos to live in sub-packages inside. With no Bosa, Bryce Huff and Mykel Williams started on the edge. Shanahan is hopeful that Gross-Matos will return next week. He said, “We’re hoping Raiders week.”

The kicking competition is over after the 49ers released Greg Joseph and 4 others

2025-08-04T10:38:53-07:00

Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Jake Moody wins the kicking competition, while the 49ers made several other roster moves on Monday

So much for a kicking competition. The San Francisco 49ers announced that they’ve released five players, including kicker Greg Joseph:

CB Tre Avery

WR Isaiah Neyor

QB Tanner Mordecai

TE Mason Pline

K Greg Joseph

According to reporters on hand, Joseph had made one more kick than Jake Moody, but it’s valid to ask whether there was ever an actual competition. It’s also important to note that placement on kickoffs is imperative, and that might’ve given Moody the leg up in the competition.

The release of Avery was reported earlier on Monday. The 49ers ended up signing cornerback Fabian Moreau, who was one of three corners the team worked out. Moreau came with the most experience, so it’s no surprise he won the competition between the three other cornerbacks.

Neyor made a couple of splash plays early on in camp, but we haven’t heard from him since. Splash plays are cool for social media and highlights, but consistency is what wins in the NFL.

Mordecai losing his job to Carter Bradley has to sting.

Pline was always a longshot. The 49ers are happy with Luke Farrell as a run blocker and George Kittle’s backup, and TE3 is likely Jake Tonges. That means Pline would have had to make his mark on special teams, but that’s where either Ross Dwelley or Brayden Willis comes into play. It could also mean the 49ers only keep three tight ends at the end of the month.

Bradlee Anae wasn’t the only defensive lineman the Niners added on Monday. Bruce Hector, who was with the New York Jets from 2023-2024, appearing in 22 games and registering 21 tackles during that stretch, signed a one-year deal. Hector is 6’2, 296 pounds.

The 49ers also re-signed safety Jaylen Mahoney and confirmed the signing of offensive tackle Isaiah Prince.

49ers sign pass rusher who led the UFL in multiple categories last season

2025-08-04T09:33:32-07:00

Photo by Stew Milne/UFL/Getty Images

Bradlee Anae was a fifth-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2020

According to the Birmingham Stallions' Twitter account, the San Francisco 49ers are signing edge rusher Bradlee Anae, who was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Anae did not last long with the Cowboys, as he did not make the roster after the 2021 season. He hasn’t been in the NFL since then.

Anae’s most recent production came in the UFL with the Stallions. Last season, Anae led the UFL with a 23.2 pass rush win rate. PFF grades the UFL, and he led all pass rushers with a 91.7 grade in true pass sets. Anae was also in the top five in pressures and hurries. He finished the season with 17 tackles, six tackles for loss, and five sacks.

The 49ers went the UFL route with Jonathan Garvin, who is currently on the roster. Adding Anae could be due to an injury or the team's need for another defensive line player. It also could be with the preseason starting, they need somebody to fill in as Kyle Shanahan is unlikely to play his starters much, if at all.

Report: 49ers release cornerback they claimed last season; work out 3 other CBs

2025-08-04T09:01:19-07:00

Kara Durrette/Getty Images

The 49ers reportedly worked out multiple cornerbacks on Sunday, and signed an offensive tackle, in addition to releasing Tre Avery

Last December, the San Francisco 49ers claimed cornerback Tre Avery off waivers from the Tennessee Titans. Avery must not have made an impression on defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, as Aaron Wilson reported the Niners released Avery.

Moving on from Avery makes sense, after seeing tweets on Sunday about the 49ers working three cornerbacks. Zy Alexander, Derrick Langford, and Fabian Moreau were the trio of corners worked out, and we could see one of them added to the roster as early as this morning when the Niners return to practice.

Alexander was an undrafted free agent from the 2025 draft class. He signed with the Seattle Seahawks before being waived on July 22. Alexander was a fifth-year senior who also played at Southeast Louisiana. His strengths are playing the ball in the air and being in the 83rd percentile in height and 76th percentile in wingspan, as well as being a fluid athlete.

However, Alexander only ran a 4.56 40-yard dash and was in the 7th percentile in the vertical jump and 15th percentile of the broad jump, suggesting a lack of explosiveness and strength.

Langford played in the UFL in 2024. The 25-year-old from Washington State was an undrafted free agent in the 2023 NFL Draft. He signed a three-year deal with the New York Jets, so Saleh should have plenty of familiarity with Langford.

Moreau has been in the NFL since 2017. He was a third-round pick out of UCLA. He has far and away the most experience, starting 56 games during his NFL career. Moreau appeared in three games with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024 and started 11 with the Denver Broncos in 2023.

There are also tweets about the 49ers signing former Titans offensive tackle Isaiah Prince. Adding Prince would make sense after San Francisco released backup tackle Sebastian Gutierrez late last week.

Prince was a sixth-round draft pick out of Ohio State in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. He started two games as a rookie, then four games two years later with the Cincinnati Bengals. The next time Prince would step foot on a football field in the regular season was with the Titans in Week 11 of last year, for a total of 26 snaps.

Golden Nuggets: Welcome to the Bay, Robbie!

2025-08-04T08:24:32-07:00

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

Your daily San Francisco 49ers news for Monday, August 4th, 2025

49ers add depth at offensive tackle by signing Isaiah Prince

“The San Francisco 49ers have reportedly signed veteran offensive tackle Isaiah Prince, according to the player’s agency. He was among several players the 49ers worked out on Sunday.”

How 49ers rookie CJ West is learning from Nick Bosa’s ‘deliberate’ approach

“Honestly, it’s both,” West when asked if he seeks out Bosa’s advice or if the veteran shares it on his own accord. “There was one practice where he was watching me get off and he was like, ‘Hey just keep doing that every single rep.’ If you just focus on getting off the ball, you’ll be OK.”

49ers Sign WR Chosen; Release WR Callaway

“The San Francisco 49ers today announced that the team has signed WR Robbie Chosen to a one-year deal.”

Re-ranking the 49ers’ rookie class: 3 undrafted players make the top 10 (paywall)

“No rookie defensive tackle in the Kyle Shanahan-John Lynch era has looked this good this early, including 2017 pick D.J. Jones, who’s built a lot like West but was a bit of a late bloomer. West has an NFL-ready bull rush as evidenced by the way he’s routinely knocked guards and centers backward in one-on-one drills. The 49ers are eager to see him build more moves onto that foundation. Something to monitor: Despite how conspicuous West has been in one-on-one situations, second-round pick Collins typically enters ahead of him in the defensive line rotation.”

Did 49ers sign QB Carter Bradley because of his arm or last name? Gus Bradley explains (paywall)

“I’m not going to lie — I’m still a parent and he’s here,” Bradley said. “I thought it would be constantly looking and, ‘How’s he doing?’ But it really is not that. You can’t watch what’s happening with the offense and still watch the whole defense. … But there might be a time where we’re watching practice on tape and you’re like, ‘Oh, there’s a play. Isn’t that Carter? ’ Those things take place. For me to sit here and say no there’s none of that, that would be inaccurate.”

Gus Bradley, a longtime NFL defensive coordinator who was the Jaguars’ head coach from 2013-16, says he rarely has discussed strategy with his son. Instead, their football conversations are about dealing with ups and downs, such as how Carter would handle the disappointment of being waived by the Raiders last month.

“We have conversations like that, not ‘OK, this is quarters (coverage) and this is how teams are playing it,’” Bradley said. “I’ve rarely had those conversations with him. The big part of it is ‘What can you learn from this? You’re coming out to a situation where you’re working out with a team and I’m in the building. Can you put that aside and go compete to be your best?’”

Can you guess this 49ers DB in today’s in-5 trivia game?

2025-08-04T07:00:00-07:00

Think you can figure out which Niners player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Niners Nation! We’re back for another day of the Niners Nation in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Niners Nation in-5 game

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Niners Nation in-5 instructions

The goal of the game is to guess the correct 49ers player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!