The San Francisco 49ers claimed linebacker Garrett Wallow off waivers from the Denver Broncos. To make room for Wallow, left guard Ben Bartch was placed on the Injured Reserve. Fresh off their bye week, the Niners are heading into Week 15 with Tatum Bethune still nursing a high-ankle injury. Kyle Shanahan said the upcoming game against the Tennessee Titans might be too early for Tatum to return.
Wallow joins Curtis Robinson, Dee Winters, Luke Gifford, and Nick Martin on the active roster. Eric Kendricks and Jalen Graham are on the practice squad. This move suggests Bethune is still a week away, while the team feels Wallow is ready to contribute right away, at least in a special teams capacity.
Wallow was a fifth-round pick by the Houston Texans in 2021. He’s played 133 snaps for Denver. All but one of those were on special teams. Graham played 14 snaps in Week 13 on special teams. The 49ers had to shuffle the deck after Martin left with a concussion.
Wallow had a few athletic tests that stood out from the NFL Combine. He was in the 84th percentile in the 3-cone and short shuttle drills, while the 77th percentile in the broad jump and 65th percentile in the 40-yard dash. Graham was in the 66th percentile in the 40-yard dash, but elected not to do the short shuttle drills — which is generally a sign that he’s not going to run well. Graham was in the 20th percentile in the broad jump.
The 49ers already activated Graham twice. They would have needed to promote Graham to the active roster after another elevation. Signing Wallow, who is in the final year of his rookie deal, means the Niners get a more experienced player for cheap and a better athlete. The 49ers’ special teams units have been one of the biggest surprises to date, and a player like Wallow should continue to help in that regard.
And if Bethune remains out, the 49ers can elevate Eric Kendricks, who will almost assuredly only play defense, while Wallow can concentrate on a special teams role.
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