The San Francisco 49ers formally announced their roster moves to get down to 75 players, and we have some surprises. The team released defensive tackle Lawrence Okoye and fullback Trey Millard, ending a pair of experiments that apparently never quite took off.
Okoye signed as an undrafted free agent in 2013, with no experience in American football. He spent 2013 on injured reserve, and then spent 2014 on the practice squad. He showed improvement this year, but it would appear the team felt his climb was going to be too much for the 49ers to extend his opportunity any further. He remains practice squad eligible, but it is entirely possible somebody else will claim him off waivers.
The 49ers spent a seventh round pick on Millard, following a season in which he tore his ACL. He was viewed as a potential special teams option, as well as an h-back kind of guy. He flew under the radar this year. I would be surprised if he was claimed off waivers, so it is entirely possible he could end up on the practice squad down the road.
The 49ers full list of roster moves are as follows:
Released
K Corey Acosta
LB Steve Beauharnais
CB Mylan Hicks
OT Sean Hooey
WR Mario Hull
WR Chuck Jacobs
WR Nigel King
LB Shawn Lemon
FB Trey Millard
DL Lawrence Okoye
Reserve/PUP
C Daniel Kilgore
Reserve/NFI
WR DeAndre Smelter
Injured Reserve
WR Dres Anderson
LB Desmond Bishop
QB Colin Kaepernick RB Carlos Hyde FB Bruce Miller WR Anquan Boldin |
TE Vernon Davis OT Joe Staley OG Alex Boone
|
DL Darnell Dockett ILB NaVorro Bowman OLB Ahmad Brooks |
CB Tramaine Brock S Eric Reid K Phil Dawson P Bradley Pinion LS Kyle Nelson |