49ers sign DL Anthony Zettel and waive DE Jeremiah Valoaga

The San Francisco 49ers today announced they had signed DL Anthony Zettel to a one-year deal. To make room on the roster, the team has waived DL Jeremiah Valoaga.

The Detroit Lions originally drafted Zettel (6-4, 275) in the sixth round (202nd overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft. Throughout his four-year career with the Lions (2016-17), Cleveland Browns (2018) and Cincinnati Bengals (2019), he has appeared in 48 games (16 starts) and registered 75 tackles, 7.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. After signing with the Bengals on October 17, 2019, he appeared in four games and registered five tackles before being waived by the team on December 17.

A 27-year-old native of West Branch, MI, Zettel attended Penn State University, where he appeared in 50 games and registered 110 tackles, 20.0 sacks, 14 passes defended, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles.

Valoaga (6-6, 275) appeared in four games and registered two tackles and one pass defensed after being promoted to the active roster from the team’s practice squad on November 27, 2019. In 44 snaps, Valoaga only had one hurry and zero run stops. He wasn’t giving the 49ers much of anything, so it made sense to move on. Zettel has played 74 snaps onn the season, all with the Bengals. He has three total pressures and one run stop. It’s not much better, but it’s something. You’re not going to sign a star at this point in the season, which is why the 49ers made a claim for Terrell Suggs. The best fix for San Francisco is getting a healthy Dee Ford back.