49ers place Kwon Alexander on IR; Promote Elijah Lee from the practice squad

The San Francisco 49ers today announced they had promoted LB Elijah Lee to the active roster from the team’s practice squad. To make room on the roster, the team placed LB Kwon Alexander on the Injured Reserve List. The team has also signed LB Christian Sam to the practice squad and opened the practice window for TE Garrett Celek, who remains on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform List.

Lee (6-2, 229) appeared in 30 games (five starts) over the previous two seasons (2017-18) with San Francisco, where he recorded 62 tackles, two passes defended 1.0 sack and one forced fumble. He was released on August 31, 2019, and signed to the team’s practice squad the following day.

Alexander (6-1, 227) started each of the team’s first eight games of the season and registered 34 tackles, four passes defended, one interception, one forced fumble, and 0.5 sack.

Sam (6-2, 240) was initially drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round (178th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft. After spending his entire rookie season on the Injured Reserve List, he was waived by New England on August 31, 2019. Sam was signed to the Miami Dolphins practice squad on September 2 and was released on September 11.

A 23-year-old native of Allen, TX, Sam attended Arizona State University (2014-17), where he appeared in 39 games (26 starts) and registered 242 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, seven passes defended, three interceptions and three forced fumbles.

Celek (6-5, 252) was originally placed on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform List on August 31, 2019.