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The San Francisco 49ers announced this afternoon that they waived linebacker Nate Stupar. The 49ers originally signed Stupar to their practice squad on January 8, 2013. After the Super Bowl, the 49ers signed Stupar to a reserve/future contract, and the second year linebacker made the 53-man roster out of training camp.
The move comes as the 49ers reach a point where they need to start removing players from injured lists. One guy that will be available after the bye is rookie linebacker Nick Moody. The 49ers placed Moody on Injured Reserve with Return Designation after he suffered a hand injury in the team's Week 1 win over the Green Bay Packers.
The short term IR requires a player spend six weeks on it before he can return to practice, and eight weeks before he can return to the 53-man roster. Moody is eligible next week, in time for the 49ers home game against the Carolina Panthers. The 49ers have several roster moves to make, but this move would seem to foreshadow the return of Moody.
Stupar has been a big part of the team's special teams units, which is a role Moody will fill upon his return. As a second-year player, Stupar must now go through waivers. If he is not claimed when waivers runs on Monday, Stupar becomes a free agent. He can sign with any time at that point, and also would be eligible to sign with the 49ers practice squad. Through the first eight weeks, Stupar was active for five games, and inactive for three. Practice squad rules allowing non-rookies to sign require they not be vested. Vesting requires at least six games active, so Stupar comes in right under that threshold.