Report: 49ers add S Tracy Walker III to deep secondary group

Aug 7, 2024, 8:31 PM

ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 30: Tracy Walker III #21 of the Detroit Lions warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 30, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images)

(Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images)

BY AMILIANO FRAGOSO

San Francisco 49ers Beat Writer

The 49ers are looking to have their deepest secondary room in recent memory, adding to that notion by signing Tracy Walker III.

A report emerged Wednesday evening that the San Francisco 49ers are signing the versatile safety after a successful workout earlier in the day. Walker was among a group of veteran safeties SF showed interest over the offseason, including Rayshawn Jenkins and Julian Blackmon. But in the end, the 49ers will reportedly sign Walker, a veteran that only adds to new defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen’s defense.

The Athletic’s Matt Barrows was first with the news.

The #49ers have signed S Tracy Walker, according to @mattbarrows pic.twitter.com/te107dybxp

— 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙎𝙁𝙉𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨 (@TheSFNiners) August 8, 2024

Tracy Walker, 29, is entering his seventh NFL season, drafted in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He has spent his entire career with the Detroit Lions, playing 79 career games. The Georgia native has accumulated 398 combined tackles, 23 pass break-ups, three interceptions and four sacks. He played all 17 games last season for Detroit, starting in six contests.

While the 49ers are seemingly set on second-year standout Ji’Ayir Brown filling one spot, the second safety slot is up for grabs. Former All-Pro Talanoa Hufanga is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered Week 11 last season. While the player hoped to be ready to go by Week 1 of the regular season, he has not returned to the field yet during training camp, hoping to do so during joint practices against the New Orleans Saints next week.

While things could change, the addition of Walker opens the door for a Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) designation for Hufanga, keeping him on ice until Week 5 of the regular season.

I’m not positive but I saw former Lions DB Chase Lucas very excited to see one of the tryout DBs

49ers just signed former Lions S Tracy Walker so I assume that’s who is in this video pic.twitter.com/nx5bqGCMaK

— Brad (@Graham_SFN) August 8, 2024