On Saturday, the San Francisco 49ers announced the following roster moves ahead of Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans:
Elevated LB Jalen Graham from the team’s practice squad (standard elevation)
Elevated DL Sebastian Valdez from the practice squad (standard elevation)
Added WR Brandon Aiyuk to the reserve/left squad list
This is Graham’s third time to be elevated. In his previous two games this season, the third-year linebacker managed to log only one tackle. All of Graham’s snaps have come on special teams. With injuries to rookie LB Nick Martin (concussion) and newly acquired LB Eric Kendricks, the 49ers may need Graham to play on Sunday, although likely not on defense, unless there’s an injury.
This is the first time Valdez has been elevated. If he plays any snaps on Sunday, they will be the first of his NFL career. The 49ers were hopeful that Yetur Gross-Matos, who has played only five games this season, would be able to return, but he is still not healthy enough. So Valdez has been elevated to give the 49ers another body along the defensive line.
Aiyuk’s tenure with the 49ers has been rocky at times. With the receiver being added to the reserve/left list, Aiyuk’s season is over before it even started. And his time with the 49ers will likely come to an end this offseason. The reserve/left squad list is typically applied to players who plan to retire or who have quit their team (left squad).
Additionally, the 49ers have added RB Christian McCaffrey to the injury report (back). He is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. But according to NFL insider Adam Schefter, “Despite being added to the injury report today as questionable due to a back injury, 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey is expected to be ‘good to go’ Sunday vs. the Titans, per source.”
Despite being added to the injury report today as questionable due to a back injury, 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey is expected to be “good to go” Sunday vs. the Titans, per source. pic.twitter.com/BnqTACkaLl
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 13, 2025