On August 8, the San Francisco 49ers signed cornerback Eric Wright to a one-year contract, and quickly placed him on the Active/NFI list. He has subsequently been moved over to the Reserve/NFI list, which means he cannot participate in team practices through the first six weeks of the season. We don't have any details on why he remains on the NFI list, but whatever the issue, he will not be playing anytime soon.
Wright is an interesting signing given some of the offseason question marks surrounding the cornerback position. The team seems pretty happy since then with the performances of Nnamdi Asomugha and Tramaine Brock, but it sounds like both are a bit banged up. Wright will not be contributing for now, but in a couple months, who knows what the situation will look like.
I don't think we can really project what Wright will do at that point. In placing him on the NFI list, 49ers do not actually have to pay his salary, per the CBA. However, teams often work out deals with agents to pay some portion of it. Given that the 49ers knew they would be placing him on the NFI list, I have to imagine they cut a deal with his agent in that regard.
Wright is an interesting signing for another reason. He is originally from San Francisco, having grown up in the Bayview District on 3rd and Oakdale, not too far from Candlestick Park (can actually walk it). Wright has his own website where he provides some written and video content about his life. He recently posted three videos about growing up in San Francisco and being a 49ers fan. The video above breaks down his 49ers fandom.
Wright has the same name as former 49ers cornerback Eric Wright. They are not related, but the younger EW had a few comments about growing up with the same name.
The next video is a little bit about growing up in San Francisco:
This last video is about his life as a new father: