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49ers’ Future Hope Cut at the Last Minute After a Weak Preseason


Santa Clara, CA — August 26, 2025 — Few things hit The Faithful harder than seeing a player once labeled “the future” get let go right before the 53-man roster deadline. On Monday night, the San Francisco 49ers waived linebacker Jalen Graham, a move that stunned the locker room and the fan base alike. 

Graham, a 2023 seventh-round pick out of Purdue, built his name on grit and versatility. Over two seasons bouncing between the active roster and practice squad, he won goodwill with special-teams hustle and the occasional splash—at times even drawing the “heat-seeking missile” label in the 49ers’ defensive culture . Entering summer 2025, many 53-man projections expected the linebacker room to carry six: Fred Warner, Dee Winters, Luke Gifford, Tatum Bethune, and Nick Martin looked secure—leaving a final spot to be fought over by Chazz Surratt, Curtis Robinson, and Jalen Graham.

But when the August lights came on, the production didn’t follow. Across three preseason games—including a 30–23 finale over the Chargers—Graham logged only a handful of tackles, no true splash plays, got targeted in coverage, and couldn’t recapture the juice fans remembered. By contrast, rookie Nick Martin seized his window—clean tackles in space, competent work in blitz looks, and a steady stream of plus grades from the staff; several projections now penciled Martin in as primary depth behind Winters.

The “tell” arrived in the preseason finale: Martin handled most second-team snaps while Graham was pushed to late-game duty—an apparent demotion local observers flagged as ominous on cutdown eve. In the final hours before the deadline, several outlets reiterated that the 49ers were trimming to 53 and that a few linebacker “bubble” names were in jeopardy.

Finalized on August 26, the decision underscored San Francisco’s unsentimental creed: performance over sentiment. Head coach Kyle Shanahan put it bluntly at Tuesday’s podium :
“Jalen gave us everything. But at this level, splash matters. Consistency matters. We had to make the tough call.”
League-wide, today is when every team gets to 53, sending hundreds of players to waivers before any claims or practice-squad returns.

Emotions ran hot among fans. “Graham was supposed to be the future next to Winters/Warner,” one X account lamented. Others pointed to linebacker depth and the rise of Nick Martin/Chazz Surratt, but few denied the drama. The latest roster projections repeatedly called this one of the tightest races on the 49ers’ defense this summer.

At 24, Graham’s story isn’t over. Teams needing a special-teams-friendly linebacker could place a claim within 24 hours; if not, a practice-squad return in the Bay Area remains possible. Graham broke his silence with a brief post on X:
“Faithful, thank you. This game tests you, but I’m not done.”

For The Faithful, this cut is more than a personnel shuffle—it’s a reminder of how quickly the NFL can turn dreams into uncertainty. For Jalen Graham, it’s another test of the will and warrior spirit that kept him in the fight these past two years. The next chapter may not be in Santa Clara, but his refusal to back down won’t be found on the waiver wire.

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Eagles Star CB Faces Family Tragedy After Week 5 Game as Military-Trained Skydiving Instructor Dies in Nashville
Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Cooper DeJean is mourning a profound personal loss following the team’s Week 5 game , as his cousin Justin Fuller a respected military-trained skydiving instructor, died in a tragic tandem jump accident near Nashville.   Fuller, 35, was fatally injured after becoming separated from his parachute harness mid-air during a jump organized by Go Skydive Nashville. His student survived after landing in a tree with the parachute deployed and was later rescued by firefighters. Police confirmed Fuller’s body was recovered in a wooded area off Ashland City Highway. The Nashville Fire Department called it “one of the most complex high-angle rescues in recent years,” commending its personnel for the effort. Justin Fuller, known by the nickname "Spidey," died after a tandem skydiving jump went wrong on Oct. 4, 2025, near Nashville, Tennessee.  (Facebook/Justin Fuller Spidey ) Fuller, known affectionately as “Spidey,” had completed more than 5,000 jumps and trained U.S. military personnel in advanced aerial maneuvers. Friends described him as “fearless, focused, and committed to lifting others higher — both in life and in the air.”   DeJean —whose mother is the younger sister of Fuller’s mother, grew up admiring his cousin’s discipline and sense of purpose. Family members say that influence helped shape his mental toughness and leadership on the field. A relative told local media, “Justin taught Dejean that strength isn’t about being unbreakable — it’s about standing firm when life hits hardest. That’s exactly how he lives and plays today.” In the Eagles’ defensive system, DeJean has steadily earned complete trust thanks to his versatility — working outside at corner, in the slot (nickel), and on coverage units — and standing out for top-end speed, precise tackling angles, and the ability to read quarterbacks. Coaches describe him as “calm, wise beyond his years, and disciplined at the catch point,” consistently maintaining leverage and finishing clean in tight spaces. Through the first five games of 2025, DeJean has played every defensive snap and totaled 36 tackles (26 solo) with five passes defensed, reinforcing his value on the perimeter and inside.  The Philadelphia Eagles have provided time and private support for DeJean and his family, ensuring he can grieve without team-related obligations. Teammates have stood beside him, honoring both his resilience and his family’s tradition of service. An FAA investigation into the accident is underway, while tributes to “Spidey” continue to pour in across social media from military colleagues, fellow skydivers, and fans nationwide.“He taught others to fly — now he flies higher than all of us,” one tribute read. DeJean kept his public remarks brief before being embraced by teammates:“He taught me not to fear the height — only the moment you forget to look down and pull someone else up with you. This week, I’m playing for him.”