The 49ers keep tinkering with their wide receiver room, and this latest move brings in a familiar NFC West face as San Francisco tries to stay ahead of the injury churn.
San Francisco has signed former Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Xavier Smith to its practice squad, adding another experienced body to a position group that has already gone through plenty of movement this season.
Smith was waived by the Rams on October 2. Los Angeles had been using the 29-year-old mostly as its punt returner over the first three games, but after reviewing its special-teams production, the team went in another direction.
Wide receiver shuffle continues: 49ers have signed former Rams WR Xavier Smith to their practice squad.
- Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 7, 2026
Smith entered the league as an undrafted free agent from Florida A&M in 2023. He spent his first year on the Rams’ practice squad before carving out a bigger role as a return specialist. In three games this season, he logged seven punt returns for 69 yards and seven kickoff returns for 144 yards.
For San Francisco, the addition fits into a broader effort to keep the receiver depth chart stocked while several players have battled availability issues. Ricky Pearsall, Demarcus Robinson, De’Zhaun Stribling and Christian Kirk have all dealt with significant injury concerns, and Mike Evans has also been limited.
The 49ers have already made a string of moves at the position. Brandin Cooks was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster last week, Malik Turner was added to the practice squad, KhaDarel Hodge was released with an injury settlement, and Dante Pettis was signed to the practice squad on September 30.
Now 4-0, the 49ers will take that record into Sunday’s game against the Seahawks at Lumen Field. Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET, with FOX televising the NFC West matchup on October 11.
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