The San Francisco 49ers parted ways with tight end Brayden Willis on Saturday, just after he completed a 16-hour journey to Australia. The move was made to create space on the roster for long snapper Jon Weeks ahead of their season opener against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne.
Weeks was elevated from the practice squad to the main roster after the 49ers found themselves without a long snapper following their final cuts before the Aug. 30 deadline. Willis, who had been with San Francisco for the last three seasons, was placed on waivers as a result.
Willis cleared waivers and rejoined the 49ers’ practice squad on Sunday, which means he will stay with the team in Australia instead of making an immediate return flight to the United States.
Brayden Willis waived after long-haul flight
Weeks was the only long snapper on the 49ers’ roster, but he was not on the active roster when the weekend began. The team had cut him just before the Aug. 30 deadline as part of their roster adjustments, leaving San Francisco without a long snapper. Weeks was then added to the practice squad before being promoted once again.
The choice to release Willis allowed the 49ers to bring Weeks back onto the active roster as they get ready for their opener against the Rams in Melbourne.
Willis has been in the NFL since 2023, when San Francisco picked him in the seventh round of the draft. Since he has less than four years of league experience, his release required him to pass through waivers.
If another team had claimed Willis, he would have had to leave Australia right away to join his new squad. Instead, he went unclaimed and signed back with the 49ers’ practice squad, letting him remain with the team in Australia.