The San Francisco 49ers have made several roster moves as they approach their first practice session of Week 13. The team announced they have signed offensive lineman Tim Barnes, and promoted running back Jeremy McNichols to the active roster from the practice squad. To make room, the team placed offensive lineman Erik Magnuson and running back Raheem Mostert on injured reserve. The team also signed LB Boseko Lokombo and CB Channing Stribling to the practice squad and released DL Noble Nwachukwu from the practice squad.
This is Barnes’ second stint with the 49ers this year. He signed with the team on May 2 and was released on September 1. He is primarily a center, and likely joins the team because Magnuson could serve as an emergency center option. His signing over a tackle suggests that Trent Brown is likely to play this Sunday. Darrell Williams is still available, but if Brown was still struggling, one would think they would have signed a tackle.
McNichols replaces Raheem Mostert, who suffered a season-ending MCL injury. The addition likely means McNichols will be active this Sunday against the Chicago Bears, and serve in primarily a special teams role.
Here’s a full rundown of the players signed and released, courtesy of 49ers PR.
Barnes (6-4, 300) originally signed with the 49ers on May 2, 2017, where he spent training camp with the team before being released on September 1. Barnes entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Baltimore Ravens on July 28, 2011. Following his release from Baltimore on September 3, 2011, he was signed to the St. Louis Rams practice squad on September 13, 2011, where he spent the remainder of the season. Over the next five seasons with the Rams (2012-16), he appeared in 77 games (36 starts), including starts in all 32 games at center over the past two years (2015-16).
A 29-year-old native of Longwood, MO, Barnes played collegiately at the University of Missouri from 2006-10 where he appeared in 46 games and earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors as a senior in 2010.
McNichols (5-9, 214) originally signed to the team’s practice squad on September 4, 2017. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round (162nd overall) of this year’s NFL Draft out of Boise State University. In three seasons (2014-16), he appeared in 34 games (25 starts) and registered 571 rushes for 3,205 yards (5.6 average) and 44 touchdowns as well as 103 receptions for 1,089 yards and 11 touchdowns. On special teams, he returned 28 kickoffs for 554 yards (19.8 average). As a junior in 2016, he earned Second-Team All-Mountain West honors for the second-consecutive season after rushing for 1,709 yards and 23 touchdowns on 314 carries. He was waived by the Buccaneers on September 2, 2017.
Lokombo (6-2, 231) originally signed a reserve/future contract with the Baltimore Ravens on January 31, 2017 after spending three seasons (2014-16) with the B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He appeared in 43 games and registered 33 tackles on defense and 40 special teams tackles. Following his release from the Ravens on September 2, he was signed to the team’s practice squad the following day. He was released by Baltimore on September 26, was signed to the Oakland Raiders practice squad on September 28 and released on October 10.
A 27-year-old native of Abbotsford, BC, Lokombo played collegiately at the University of Oregon from 2009-13 where he appeared in 53 games (27 starts) and registered 171 tackles, five interceptions, 16 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.
Stribling (6-1, 188) originally signed with the Cleveland Browns on May 4, 2017 as an undrafted rookie free agent. He was waived on September 1 and was signed to Cleveland’s practice squad on September 6. Following his release from the team on September 19, he was signed to the Indianapolis Colts practice squad on September 26and was released on September 6.
A 23-year-old native of Matthews, NC, Stribling played collegiately at the University of Michigan from 2009-13 where he appeared in 47 games (18 starts) and registered 68 tackles, six interceptions and 22 passes defensed. As a senior in 2016, finished with 28 tackles, 13 passes defensed and four interceptions while earning Second-Team All-Big Ten honors.
Magnuson (6-6, 304) originally signed with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent on May 4, 2017. He appeared in four games (two starts) along the offensive line. Mostert (5-10, 197) appeared in each of the team’s first 11 games of the season and finished with six carries for 30 yards in addition to eight tackles on special teams.
Nwachukwu (6-2, 275) originally signed with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent on May 4, 2017. He was later released on September 2, signed to the team’s practice squad on September 3 and released on October 11. He re-signed to the practice squad on October 31.