49ers sign veteran safety Erik Harris to practice squad
The San Francisco 49ers have made an anticipated move at the safety position, but it was not to add one to the active roster. Instead, the 49ers, per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, are expected to sign veteran Erik Harris to the practice squad following season-ending injuries to All-Pro Talanoa Hufanga and core special teams player […]
The San Francisco 49ers have made an anticipated move at the safety position, but it was not to add one to the active roster.
Instead, the 49ers, per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, are expected to sign veteran Erik Harris to the practice squad following season-ending injuries to All-Pro Talanoa Hufanga and core special teams player George Odum suffered in the wins over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks.
The 49ers are, for now at least, set to head into their massive Week 13 clash with the Philadelphia Eagles with just two safeties on the active roster.
Veteran Tashaun Gipson and rookie Ji'Ayir Brown, the Niners' top pick in this year's draft in the third round, are the only players at the position on the 53.
Harris, who played for the Atlanta Falcons last season, will join Tayler Hawkins as the other safety on the practice squad.
An undrafted free agent last year, Hawkins has not been elevated to the gameday roster this season. Therefore the 49ers will likely use the three elevations they have for both him and Harris at their disposal to provide insurance against injuries to Gipson and Brown.
Having only two safeties on the active roster allows the 49ers to retain depth at other positions on the 53-man roster. San Francisco on Monday activated rookie edge rusher Robert Beal Jr. from injured reserve to take Odum's roster spot.
The Niners now have 10 defensive linemen on the active roster to go with six cornerbacks, the latter group seeing its numbers swelled by Samuel Womack III's activation from IR last week prior to the win over Seattle.
Harris played 14 games for the Falcons in 2022, starting once. He made 12 starts for Atlanta in 2021.
The 33-year-old has previously played for the New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders. He signed with the Saints in 2016 having spent three seasons in the CFL after going undrafted in 2012.
Harris has 28 pass breakups with five interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns, in his career.
