The San Francisco 49ers have announced the waiver of tight end Brayden Willis, as reported by the NFL's transaction wire. This decision was made to make room for long snapper Jon Weeks, who has been elevated from the practice squad.
In addition to this move, the team signed Khalid Kareem and placed Sam Okuayinonu on Injured Reserve. The choice to retain Willis over rookie undrafted free agent Bryson Eason raised some questions, especially since Eason had demonstrated potential during the preseason, suggesting he could be a valuable asset.
Willis, who has had a fluctuating presence on the roster in previous seasons, participated in special teams during the preseason but did not achieve any solo tackles across 32 snaps. With the return of key players like Kyle Juszczyk and George Kittle, Willis's opportunities to contribute appeared limited.
The competitive nature of the NFL was evident in this decision, particularly for players like Willis, who faced unexpected changes shortly before the season began after training in Australia.