The 49ers on Wednesday announced some significant changes to their practice squad. Just one day after signing running back Jeremy McNichols, the team released him as part of a move that added a trio of players to their 17-man practice unit.
San Francisco because of some injuries and other maneuvers had a pair of practice squad spots already open. The McNichols release created a third vacancy.
Buy 49ers TicketsThe three openings were filled by safety Tre Norwood, cornerback Kendall Sheffield and tight end Jake Tonges.
Here’s a quick rundown on each new addition:
S Tre Norwood
Norwood entered the NFL in 2021 as a seventh round pick of the Steelers. The Oklahoma alum started six of the 32 games he played for Pittsburgh and posted four pass breakups with one interception. Pittsburgh released him at final roster cuts this year.
CB Kendall Sheffield
The Falcons selected Sheffield in the fourth round of the 2019 draft. He started 20 games for them and played in 38 total. Sheffield has 98 tackles and six pass breakups in his career. Houston claimed him off waivers from Atlanta during the 2022 offseason, then the Texans waived him at the end of the preseason. Dallas later added him to their practice squad.
TE Jake Tonges
Tonges is the least experienced of the three newest 49ers. He played in four games last year as an undrafted rookie with the Bears. Chicago eventually released him and re-signed him to their practice squad. Tonges is a Bay Area native from Los Gatos. He also played his college football at Cal.
