The 49ers have made it clear to the roster without making any blockbuster trades.

Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco 49ers made a late addition ahead of the NFL trade deadline, acquiring cornerback Khalil Davis from the Houston Texans in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round draft pick. While not a blockbuster, it does reflect the team’s confidence that key reinforcements will come from players returning from injury.

General manager John Lynch recently tempered expectations for the blockbuster acquisition, noting that nothing significant will happen and acknowledging that the team may have set the bar high given past timing.

“I think there’s an interesting expectation because we’ve done so many of them that you do it every year and that’s not the case,” Lynch said. “You do it when it makes sense. It seems to make a lot of sense and it has helped our team, I will say that.”

The 49ers’ other moves were obviously inconsistent with their current vision. The 49ers have significant salary cap space, so spending money on a short-term solution wouldn’t be much of a problem. However, most of the money is earmarked for the future as the team prepares for less roster flexibility at quarterback. Brock PurdyAn upcoming contract extension is on the horizon.

Instead, the 49ers will rely on players ready to return from injury. The most notable example of this may be the reigning NFL Offensive Running Back of the Year. Christian McCaffrey. His training window opened this week. McCaffrey, who has yet to play this season because of Achilles tendonitis, could be activated from injured reserve for Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“I haven’t heard of any failures,” ESPN insider Adam Schefter said of McCaffrey this week. “I haven’t heard of any problems. I haven’t heard of any complications. So as long as there are no red flags and that continues, I think he will play on Sunday against the Pirates as long as there are no setbacks.”

Offensive lineman John FelicianoThe practice window was also open, and wide receiver Jauan Jennings is preparing to return after missing two games with a hip injury, a timely boost given the wide receiver’s season-ending injury. Brandon Aiyuk.

On the defensive, on the defensive Yetur Gross-Matos looks close to returning, and the midfielder Dre Greenlawwho tore his Achilles during the Super Bowl in February, was spotted by teammates working out during a light bonus workout on Monday. Safety Talanoa Hufanga could also be available soon and if the 49ers go deep in the playoffs, even defensive tackle Javon Hargrave could come back.

“I look at this injury list and I say, ‘Hey, we have a chance… We have a chance to get a lot of these guys back and that could help our team,'” Lynch said last week. . “And it’s as good as any deal we could make because these guys are familiar with what we do (and) how we do it.”

Similar news