The 49ers kept working the margins of their roster on Wednesday morning, adding veteran help on both sides of the ball with one-year deals for wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge and defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo.
To make room, San Francisco released defensive tackle Kevin Givens and defensive end Cameron Sample.
It’s another depth shuffle for a team trying to get through August with a roster that has already taken hits. Ricky Pearsall is out after season-ending knee surgery, Mike Evans has been dealing with a recent quad strain, and the edge rush group has been stretched thin enough that John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan have continued cycling through the 90-man roster to keep camp moving.
Okoronkwo was officially added after Sunday’s workout in Santa Clara, giving the 49ers a 31-year-old pass rusher with plenty of scheme familiarity. The former 2018 fifth-round pick has played in aggressive defensive systems under DeMeco Ryans, Jim Schwartz, Vic Fangio and, now, Raheem Morris. He and Morris also crossed paths with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, a season that ended with a Super Bowl ring.
His career line includes 81 games, 17.0 sacks and 31 tackles for loss. His best stretch came in 2022 with Houston, when he posted an 18.5% pressure rate, 33 stops and 5.0 sacks.
That background matters now because San Francisco’s defensive line room has been hit hard. Rookie Mikail Kamara is out with a torn ACL, Keion White is dealing with an adductor injury and Mykel Williams is on the active/PUP list.
With Nick Bosa easing back toward full 11-on-11 work, Okoronkwo gives the 49ers a proven edge option who already knows the language of Morris’ defense. Releasing Cameron Sample also points to confidence in the recovery timelines for the team’s top defensive ends.
Hodge’s addition gives San Francisco a different kind of help. He brings another dependable receiver into camp, but his real value is on special teams.
The veteran has played in 118 NFL games with the Rams, Browns, Lions and Falcons, and he has 67 catches for 1,026 yards and two touchdowns. More importantly, he earned a Pro Bowl selection as the NFC’s top special teams representative after the 2024 season.
With Mike Evans managing a quad issue, De’Zhaun Stribling working through a hamstring injury and Christian Kirk recovering from a calf problem, Hodge also adds a body who can take valuable practice reps right away. Just as important, he upgrades the coverage units from day one.
For San Francisco, these aren’t headline moves. They’re practical ones. The 49ers are swapping out fringe pieces for veterans who can handle real preseason snaps, steady the special teams group and help protect the core as camp attrition keeps testing the roster.
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