The 49ers have already had to juggle the edges of their roster early in training camp, and the latest moves show where the depth chart is getting tested.
San Francisco signed running back Khalil Herbert and defensive lineman Titus Leo, then cleared space by waiving cornerback Eli Apple and waiving Mikail Kamara with an injury designation.
Herbert is the more recognizable addition, and for good reason. He’s heading into his sixth NFL season with 13 career starts and 416 rushing attempts on his resume. His busiest year came in 2023, when he logged a career-high 132 carries, but he has just 52 carries combined over the last two seasons.
That doesn’t point to Herbert stepping in and challenging Christian McCaffrey for a major role. But it does suggest the 49ers wanted another back who can handle real NFL work if needed.
The move also appears tied to Jordan James, who is dealing with fractured ribs. With James and Isaac Guerendo sidelined, the running back group had started to look dangerously thin.
If those injuries drag into the season, Herbert could wind up as the third back on the roster and even earn an active game-day helmet.
Apple’s departure was far less surprising. He was never positioned to crack the top seven outside cornerbacks, so his release had been expected.
Leo’s arrival is more of a direct replacement for Kamara, whose rookie season is over before it really began. Kamara, an undrafted rookie from Indiana, got hurt before he could make his case.
Leo brings a little more NFL mileage. The Colts took him in the sixth round of the 2023 draft.
He spent his rookie year on injured reserve, was cut in his second season, then landed with the Patriots before being released in the 2025 offseason. After that, he went through 2025 training camp with the Browns and spent the 2025 regular season on the Eagles’ practice squad.
For San Francisco, this is mostly about keeping bodies available up front. The edge group isn’t dealing with major injuries, but it is banged up.
Keion White is working back onto the field, and Mykel Williams should return soon from his ACL injury. The 49ers also don’t want to overwork Nick Bosa.
So Leo gives them another option for the next month, and Herbert gives them insurance in a backfield that suddenly needed it.
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