Former Cal safety Ashtyn Davis is back with the 49ers after a short release that lasted only one day.
Davis was cut by San Francisco on Sunday, then re-signed Monday to a one-year contract. His return came as the 49ers also placed linebacker Nick Martin and cornerback Nate Hobbs on the injured list.
A handful of other ex-Cal players who were waived or released Sunday found new landing spots on practice squads. Cornerback Brent "Paco" Austin joined the Denver Broncos' practice squad, closing the door on any possibility that he might head back to college for a fifth season. Defensive lineman TJ Bollers landed with the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad, while linebacker Jackson Sirmon signed with the New Orleans Saints practice squad.
Offensive lineman Jake Curhan was added to the Carolina Panthers practice squad, and safety Daniel Scott joined the Indianapolis Colts practice squad. Former Cal and Oklahoma running back Jaydn Ott also ended up on the Chiefs practice squad.
Wide receiver Jacob De Jesus was waived by the Chiefs on Sunday and has not yet taken another step, though reports indicate he is a strong candidate to join Kansas City's practice squad.
Two more former Cal defenders, safety Patrick McMorris and defensive end Cameron Goode, were still without a move after Sunday, but there is a good chance they, too, end up on practice squads.
NFL practice squads can hold up to 16 players outside the 53-man roster. Those players can work with the team and be elevated to the active roster if injuries open a spot.
The practice squad has long been a launching pad for NFL careers. Hall of Famers Kurt Warner, James Harrison and Jason Peters all started there, and former Cal players Lorenzo Alexander and Giorgio Tavecchio also used that route before making their marks.
Alexander, now an assistant coach on the Cal staff, played 13 NFL seasons and made two Pro Bowls. Tavecchio played two NFL seasons and went 21-for-26 on field goals.
Former Cal wide receiver Chad Hansn also spent time on the Titans, Broncos and Texans practice squads before turning that opportunity into a five-catch, 101-yard game for Houston in 2020.
In Other News...
Cal Is About To Face A UCLA Program In Fresh Chaos
Cal will be preparing for one of its familiar conference opponents under unusual circumstances, with UCLA now dealing with a leadership shake-up at the top of its athletic department just as the 2026 college football season is about to begin. The Bruins have moved on from athletic director Martin Jarmond and turned to former Lakers executive Tim Harris on an interim basis, a decision that adds another layer of instability around a program already trying to steady itself.
The timing matters for the Bears because this is not just an administrative change, but one that reportedly followed an audit and grew out of larger concerns about revenue, NIL strategy and internal friction within the department. For a Cal team looking at the league through its own lens, UCLA suddenly looks less like a settled rival and more like a program entering the season with fresh questions hanging over it. [Read more 🡒]
Cal QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele Is Already Giving UCLA Something To Worry About
With the opener against Cal drawing closer, UCLA coach Bob Chesney spent his first preseason press conference giving the Bears a little extra respect, especially when the conversation turned to sophomore quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. Chesney pointed to the way Sagapolutele moves, throws and stays composed, a notable nod to a young quarterback who is already shaping up as one of the more important figures in the matchup. The Bears also present a broader scouting puzzle, with a roster full of new faces and coaches making the opener something of a fresh start on both sides.
Chesneys comments fit the larger reality surrounding this series of arrangements between the schools, including the ongoing financial agreement tied to UCLAs move to the Big Ten. For Cal, though, the more immediate takeaway is simpler: an opposing coach is already talking about its quarterback in the kind of terms that usually get attention. The Bears will have a chance to show whether that early buzz is deserved, and UCLA is clearly treating the assignment with the caution of a team that knows an opener can get tricky fast. [Read more 🡒]
Cal Fans Are Sending A Loud Early Message In Tosh Lupois Opener
There is a noticeable buzz building around Cals home date with UCLA, and it comes with a real chance to pack Memorial Stadium for the first time in a while. The late-night, 7:30 p.m. kickoff has helped set the stage, and the Bears are expecting a crowd that should look a lot different from some of the sparse turnouts that have dotted the West Coast this fall.
First-year coach Tosh Lupoi has spent plenty of time talking about energizing the fan base and making the game-day experience feel more inviting, and the numbers around this one suggest that message is landing. Cal has also opened up more seating by removing tarps over two sections, giving the stadium a larger footprint as it tries to turn a big home crowd into part of the atmosphere the program wants to build around. [Read more 🡒]