Zamir White’s latest stop has already come and gone.
Less than a week after the 49ers dealt the running back to the New Orleans Saints for linebacker Deion Jones, the Saints have cut him loose, according to Saints reporter Mike Triplett. That means White’s stint in New Orleans ended after just one preseason appearance.
White’s lone game action for the Saints came in a win over the Dallas Cowboys, when he carried four times for 23 yards and scored a touchdown. It was a brief chance to make an impression, and it didn’t lead to a longer stay.
The move also closed the book on a trade that served a purpose for both teams. San Francisco used the deal to clear space in a crowded backfield while adding Jones, a player the 49ers could lean on for special teams work and extra depth. The linebacker addition came into a room already stocked with veterans and young talent.
White, a former fourth-round pick of the Las Vegas Raiders, spent four seasons in Las Vegas before arriving in San Francisco. During that stretch, he ran for 736 yards and two touchdowns.
Because he is a vested veteran, White is exempt from waivers and can sign with any team. So his next opportunity can come quickly - just not with the 49ers or the Saints.
San Francisco, for now, is expected to stay put at running back unless injuries force the issue. The team already has 2026 rookie Kaleon Black and 2025 fifth-round pick Jordan James behind Christian McCaffrey on the depth chart.
In Other News...
49ers Suddenly Have A Bigger Brandon Aiyuk Problem Than Ever
The 49ers moved to settle their roster on Tuesday, but Brandon Aiyuk remained the name hanging over the room. General manager John Lynch confirmed the wide receiver is not currently on the active roster after San Francisco left him off the final 53-man roster and placed him on the reserve/left squad list, a move that underlined just how unusual this situation has become for a player who has been one of the offenses biggest pieces.
Aiyuk also has not taken part in offseason workouts or training camp, which has only added to the uncertainty around his future in Santa Clara. Public chatter has linked him to the Washington Commanders, but no official move has followed, leaving the 49ers with a high-profile issue still unresolved as the season picture comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Could Need Immediate Week 1 Help From Unexpected Veterans
The 49ers are already looking past the initial roster trim and into Week 1 depth planning, with defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo and wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge reportedly joining the practice squad. It is the kind of early-season move that says as much about health as it does about talent, especially with San Francisco getting ready for its opener against the Los Angeles Rams and needing enough reliable bodies to cover important snaps on both sides of the ball.
Okoronkwo and Hodge bring the sort of veteran experience that can matter quickly if the 49ers have to shuffle pieces before the opener, and both could end up on the game day roster right away because of injury concerns at their positions. Undrafted players Wesley Grimes and Khalil Dinkins were also mentioned in the mix, giving San Francisco a little more flexibility as it tries to get through the first week with its depth chart still settling into place. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Add Under-The-Radar Depth With One Week 1 Question
The 49ers kept adding to their depth picture after the opening roster decisions, turning to a practice squad group that brings a mix of experience and upside. Ogbo Okoronkwo gives San Francisco a veteran edge presence with seven years in the league, while Khalil Dinkins and Wesley Grimes arrive as recent undrafted free agents looking to carve out a foothold in the organization.
KhaDarel Hodge is the most familiar name in the group for fans who follow special teams and receiver depth, since he has already spent time with the Falcons. For a team that always has to manage the grind of a long season, these are the kinds of low-profile additions that can matter quickly, even if the bigger question around the Week 1 roster is still only beginning to take shape. [Read more 🡒]