49ers re-sign edge rusher Alex Barrett after James Lockhart opts out of 2020 season

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the San Francisco 49ers placed J.J. Nelson on the injured reserve as his knee injury would take longer than four weeks. Rapoport said the Niners would likely reach an injury settlement to clear him off the books and make Nelson a free agent.

Remember when San Francisco claimed edge rusher James Lockhart less than 24 hours ago? Lockhart opted out of the 2020 season and informed the 49ers that he would no longer play football. The team’s corresponding move was to re-sign edge rusher Alex Barrett, who has been on and off the team multiple times during August.

As practice gets underway Sunday, George Kittle, Kyle Juszczyk, Dee Ford, and Nick Bosa are all sitting out with injuries. I wouldn’t read too much into those yet, anyway. There’s no reason for them to practice two weeks out of the game. It’s crazy to say, and it feels like forever, but the Niners kick off the season two weeks from Sunday.