SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco 49ers are fighting to keep their season alive. At 5–3, the record doesn’t tell the whole story — this is a team battered, bruised, and desperately clinging to its Super Bowl hopes. With a mountain of injuries and a thin roster, John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan have made two surprising, gutsy moves that could quietly reshape the team’s future.

On Tuesday, in a flurry of front-office action, the 49ers signed two former first-round draft picks — defensive end Clelin Ferrell and offensive tackle Andre Dillard — to their practice squad, per reports from CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz and ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

At first glance, these may seem like minor roster adjustments. But in reality, they’re a sign that San Francisco is in full survival mode — and still refuses to give up on the season.

A Familiar Face Returns to the Bay

Clelin Ferrell, the former No. 4 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, returns for his second stint with the 49ers after spending last season in red and gold. Once a dominant force at Clemson, where he helped the Tigers win two national championships and earned ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Ferrell was once considered a future superstar.

However, his journey through the NFL hasn’t gone as planned. After four inconsistent years with the Las Vegas Raiders, he’s struggled to find a lasting home. Still, Ferrell’s 2023–24 campaign with San Francisco was solid — 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and six tackles for loss — and his familiarity with the defensive system could make him a valuable plug-in for an injury-depleted pass rush.

“It’s not about where you’ve been — it’s about where you’re going,” Ferrell said in a statement shared through his agent. “And I’m ready to fight again with the 49ers.”

A Fresh Start for a Forgotten Tackle

Joining Ferrell on the practice squad is Andre Dillard, another 2019 first-round selection, who has bounced between the Eagles, Titans, and Packers. Once viewed as a cornerstone left tackle, Dillard’s career never fully took flight due to injuries and inconsistency.

Yet his experience could prove crucial for a 49ers offensive line that has been tested week after week. With multiple linemen banged up, Dillard brings veteran depth and flexibility, especially as the team enters a grueling November stretch.

To make room, the team released Brandon Parker, a sign that Lynch is unafraid to shuffle the deck in pursuit of stability.

Injuries Continue to Test 49ers’ Resilience

The 2025 season has been brutal for San Francisco. Key stars like Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, and Trent Williams have missed time, and Shanahan’s depth chart looks more like a hospital list than a playoff roster. Still, the 49ers have remained competitive, largely due to Shanahan’s ability to adapt and extract production from unlikely contributors.

The signing of Ferrell and Dillard might not make national headlines — yet. But within the locker room, it sends a message: this team isn’t folding. It’s adjusting, adapting, and clawing its way forward, one gritty move at a time.

The Road Ahead

The 49ers will travel to MetLife Stadium this Sunday to face the New York Giants (2–6) — a matchup that could serve as a turning point in their season. With new reinforcements and renewed focus, Shanahan hopes to stabilize his wounded roster and keep the team above water in the NFC playoff race.

Because in San Francisco, the mission is simple — survive now, thrive later.

“We’ve been hit hard, but we’re not done,” Shanahan reportedly told his players after practice. “Every name we add is another step toward getting back up.”

And with two former first-rounders now wearing red and gold, maybe — just maybe — the spark the 49ers need has already arrived.