The San Francisco 49ers on Wednesday added some internal depth at linebacker by bringing back a familiar rookie.
Undrafted rookie Stone Blanton re-signed with the 49ers’ practice squad according to an announcement from the team.
Blanton was with the club throughout the offseason program after he wasn’t selected in the 2025 NFL draft. The 49ers let him go, but brought him back to the practice squad in late October. He was let go in early November before being re-signed Wednesday.
It’s not a surprise the 49ers are looking for internal depth with their injury issues at the position. LB Fred Warner suffered a season-ending ankle injury and now his replacement, Tatum Bethune, is out for multiple weeks because of a high ankle sprain he suffered in the 49ers’ Week 11 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
While Blanton isn’t liable to be a factor in Week 12, the team will need a player in the building who has enough familiarity that they can step in quickly if called upon. They may not need him right away, but they’re one more injury away from needing to call on a player to fill a void on the linebacker depth chart.
Blanton played in two of the 49ers’ three preseason games this year and posted three tackles with three missed tackles and a forced fumble according to Pro Football Focus.
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