49ers activate Javon Kinlaw from the Reserve/COVID-19 list; sign Matthews to PS

The San Francisco 49ers today announced they had activated DT Javon Kinlaw from the Reserve/COVID-19 List. The team also signed WR Jordan Matthews to the practice squad and released WR Chris Finke.

Matthews (6-3, 215) was originally drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft. Throughout his six-year NFL career with the Eagles (2014-16 & 2018-19), Buffalo Bills (2017), and 49ers (2019), he has appeared in 73 games (46 starts) and registered 274 receptions for 3,288 yards (12.0 average) and 22 touchdowns. Matthews spent part of the season with the 49ers in 2019 and appeared in one game.

A 28-year-old native of Madison, AL, Matthews attended Vanderbilt University. In four years with the Commodores (2010-13), he played in 51 games (37 starts) and finished his career as the SEC’s all-time leader in receptions (262) and receiving yards (3,759) and totaled a school-record 24 receiving touchdowns.

Finke (5-9, 186) signed to the team’s practice squad on October 28, 2020.

Early on at practice, according to The Sacramento Bee’s Chris Biderman, Jordan Reed, Dre Greenlaw, and Azeez Al-Shaair are not at practice. Neither of them practiced on Thursday, either. That would leave the 49ers with Fred Warner, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, and Jonas Griffith at linebacker. It’s safe to say we can expect a flurry of moves on Saturday.