The San Francisco 49ers on Sunday made their initial moves to get their roster to the 53-player limit. There are still plenty of moves to come before they have the 53 players they'll be taking with them for their Week 1 game vs. the Los Angeles Rams in Australia, including a handful of veterans who could (should?) be in line to return.
When a vested veteran is released they become a free agent, which allows a team like San Francisco to let the player know they'll be re-signing them so that player doesn't go seek out another opportunity in the free agent market.
There are two players who should definitely be back in the Bay Area, and a couple others who might be on the 49ers' radar to return:
P Corliss Waitman
It was a small surprise that Waitman was among the 49ers'
cuts, but it was simply a roster machination that allows them to keep other players at certain positions while they wait out waivers and the free agency pool. Waitman had a really nice preseason and should be the team's punter in Week 1 vs. the Rams.
LS Jon Weeks
We can put Weeks in the same bucket as Waitman. He was good for the 49ers last year and re-signed on a one-year deal this offseason. He'll be the 49ers' long snapper once the dust has settled on roster moves and he re-signs.
OL Robert Jones
It would be a bit of a surprise if Jones wasn't with the 49ers at all this season given that he once looked to be whatever version of a frontrunner there might have been for San Francisco's starting left guard spot. Even if he's not the starter he's an experienced veteran who should be on the roster as a depth piece.
WR KhaDarel Hodge
The 49ers have typically prized special teams play on the back end of their WR depth chart and Hodge was perhaps their best special teams player at the position in the preseason. Jordan Watkins is the sixth WR for now, but it wouldn't be a huge shock if Hodge winds up making it back into the fold. At the very least he should be a practice squad addition if he's not added to an active roster elsewhere.
More 49ers: 49ers officially announce final cuts, IR placements, 53-man roster
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 4 veterans cut by 49ers who could return to 53-man roster
