Report: 49ers add former Raiders safety to alleviate depth concerns

Nov 28, 2023, 6:00 AM

49ers ; Erik Harris #25 of the Las Vegas Raiders plays the field during an NFL game against the Ind...

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 13: Erik Harris #25 of the Las Vegas Raiders plays the field during an NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts on December 13, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

(Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

BY AMILIANO FRAGOSO

San Francisco 49ers Beat Writer

Down a few members in the secondary, the 49ers have turned to reinforcements from other teams to fill in the gaps.

Reports emerged Monday afternoon that the San Francisco 49ers are expected to sign safety Erik Harris to the team’s practice squad. The 49ers make this move after losing two safeties to season-ending injuries in two weeks, making them wafter-thin at the position.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was first with the news Monday.

Harris, 33, has been in the NFL since 2016. Undrafted coming out of Cal Berkeley, the veteran started with the New Orleans Saints before jumping ship to Oakland. He spent four seasons with the Raiders organization. He signed with the Atlanta Falcons in 2021 for two years thereafter.

The versatile safety has accumulated 267 combined tackles, 28 pass breakups, seven TFLs, and five INTs in 91 NFL games played. Additionally, Harris has played more than 1500 snaps on spscual teams, adding to his overall value to the Red & Gold.

New 49ers safety Erik Harris left a hint of his signing in this tweet. Harris, 33, went to Cal and has played over 1,500 special teams snaps in his career.

The 49ers are looking to shore up the #25-rated special teams unit in the NFL after George Odum’s injury https://t.co/6aNy5SwRXP

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) November 28, 2023

The 49ers are expected to make the move after losing All-Pro starter Talanoa Hufanga and special-team ace George Odum to injuries in consecutive weeks.

The former suffered an ACL tear against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while the latter tore his bicep against the Seattle Seahawks. Both men have been placed on the injury reserve, effectively ending their 2023 seasons.

San Francisco also worked out a handful of the defensive backs Monday, including former practice-sqaud player Anthony Averett, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston.