The San Francisco 49ers promoted defensive lineman Viliami Fehoko Jr. from the practice squad and elevated defensive tackle Kevin Givens and Sebastian Valdez.
To make room for Fehoko Jr. on the active roster, the 49ers placed wide receiver Demarcus Robinson on injured reserve. He’ll miss at least four games.
Fehoko Jr. is listed at 6’5″, 267 pounds. The former San Jose State product came into the NFL at 276 pounds, suggesting he may have bulked up to play more of an interior role. Coming into the NFL,
some of Fehoko Jr.’s athletic profile comparisons were Mason Graham and Walter Nolen—two defensive tackles.
Fehoko’s ability to play multiple spots along the defensive line likely earned him a spot on the active roster, until the 49ers get healthier at the position.
With Nick Bosa and Romello Height ruled out for Week 3, Fehoko could be the short-term solution at defensive end. Other options on the roster include Keion White, Khalid Kareem, and Ogbo Okoronkwo. That leaves White, a player the 49ers traded for last season, the most experienced edge rusher who will be active against the Cardinals.
That may not be the case for long. According to the transaction wire, the 49ers were the only team to have tryouts on Saturday. Here’s who they hosted:
Jamin Davis
Matt Judon
Julian Okwara
Dawuane Smoot
Davis is a true off-ball linebacker. The 49ers may want the former first-rounder to play in 5-man fronts.
Judon, 34, needs no introduction. He last played a full season in 2024. Judon played in just over 300 snaps last season with the Dolphins.
Okwara has the body type Morris seems to covet, with an arm length in the 83rd percentile. Cleveland released him after training camp in 2025.
Smoot, 31, would be the veteran you sign, knowing he’d understand the assignment. He’s the most experienced, with nearly 2,400 career snaps.
Until the 49ers make another move, their defensive line for Week 3 consists of:
Keion White
Osa Odighizuwa
Gracen Halton
Khalid Kareem
Naquan Jones
Ogbo Okoronkwo
Viliami Fehoko Jr.
Sebastian Valdez
Kevin Givens
That’s a far cry from what that list looked like heading into September.
