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49ers Waive TE Ross Dwelley, Sign Former Practice-Squad Defensive Lineman to a One-Year Deal

SANTA CLARA, CA — August 2025 — The San Francisco 49ers announced they have waived tight end Ross Dwelley and signed former 49ers practice-squad defensive lineman Shakel Brown to a one-year contract. Terms were not disclosed.

Brown (6-3, 295) spent time on the 49ers’ practice squad in 2024 before moving on. At Troy, he showcased a sturdy frame and heavy hands, projecting as a rotational interior DL/5-tech fit in San Francisco’s defensive scheme.

The move adds interior depth as the 49ers enter the roster-cut phase of the preseason. Parting with Dwelley also opens snaps for reserve tight ends to compete behind cornerstone George Kittle.

Shakel Brown:
I was surprised to get the call from President Ahmad Getting another shot to wear the red and gold is something I’ve always wanted. I’m going to seize this opportunity and prove I belong here.

Following his remarks, Brown dove into a packed schedule: tightening up hand usage, leverage, and his bull-rush in position groups while quickly absorbing the 3-tech/4i interior packages the 49ers expect to lean on to generate middle pressure. Slotted as a rotational interior piece, he’ll need to prove gap integrity and win quickly in 1-on-1 situations to lock down a spot in the rotation.

From an organizational standpoint, the move signals a priority on interior depth during preseason evaluation. The coaching staff views Brown as a potential immediate contributor on passing downs and in goal-line packages; the rest depends on turning this “second chance” into a string of quality reps—steady, disciplined, and aligned with the red and gold culture.

VIDEO: 49ers CB Star Ridicules Rams RB1 Kyren Williams On Instagram Live After Heated On-Field Clash
San Francisco, CA – October 6, 2025 The bad blood between NFC West rivals is boiling over once again. Days after the San Francisco 49ers edged the Los Angeles Rams in a tense 26–23 overtime victory, cornerback Deommodore Lenoir took to Instagram Live to throw shade at Rams running back Kyren Williams, reigniting a feud that started on the field. Lenoir didn’t mince words when asked about Williams:“He’s got a dirty mouth,” the 49ers CB said. “He shouldn’t be talking. He pointed at me when he scored, like he had something to prove.” The tension began early in the game when Williams celebrated his two receiving touchdowns by taunting Lenoir, pointing directly at him after crossing the goal line. But Williams’ bravado faded late. With just over a minute left in regulation, he fumbled at the 1-yard line — a mistake rookie defender Alfred Collins pounced on to erase Los Angeles’ chance at a go-ahead score. Things only got worse in overtime. After San Francisco took the lead on an Eddy Piñeiro field goal, Williams was stuffed on a critical 4th-and-1 run, sealing the 49ers’ victory. That’s when Lenoir went online to let his rival know he hadn’t forgotten the earlier taunts. The Rams’ RB1 admitted postgame that he felt responsible for the heartbreaking loss, telling reporters: “I let my team down.”👉FULL VIDEO: https://x.com/i/status/1974572965988859972 For the 49ers, the victory was a statement win. Playing without stars like Brock Purdy, Nick Bosa, and George Kittle, San Francisco still leaned on quarterback Mac Jones and receiver Kendrick Bourne to power through. Jones, despite playing on an injured leg, threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns, while Bourne hauled in 10 catches for 142 yards — both career highs. Head coach Kyle Shanahan lauded his team’s resilience:“We talked about how tough this was going to be. They tightened up, we lost guys, but our defense stepped up and we stayed together. That’s the type of win that defines who we are.” The rivalry will only intensify when these two meet again in Week 10. With Williams looking for redemption and Lenoir unlikely to back down, November 11th is already circled as a date for fireworks in the NFC West.