The San Francisco 49ers have placed EDGE rusher Sam Okuayinonu on injured reserve, sidelining him for a minimum of four games. This move comes as the team gears up for their Week 1 game against the Los Angeles Rams. Okuayinonu suffered a foot injury on Wednesday, which prevented him from traveling with the team to Melbourne, Australia.
He is expected to return by Week 5 when the 49ers face the Seattle Seahawks.
With Okuayinonu out, the 49ers are left with three active EDGE rushers: Nick Bosa, Romello Height, and Keion White. Bosa has recently returned to full practice following recovery from an ACL tear and knee tendinitis. Mykel Williams is currently on the PUP list due to an ACL tear and meniscus damage, which will keep him out for at least the first month of the season.
To strengthen their defensive line, the 49ers have signed veteran Khalid Kareem to a one-year contract. Kareem, who has experience with the Atlanta Falcons, recorded 11 tackles, one tackle for loss, and one quarterback hit over six games since 2024.
NFL rules dictate that players taken from a practice squad must be paid for at least three weeks and will count against the 53-man roster for that duration, even if they are released before the period concludes.