Brayden Willis, the 49ers tight end, lived out an NFL nightmare, getting cut by the team *after* flying 16 grueling hours to Australia for their season opener. Talk about a brutal welcome to the regular season, right? Willis was released on Saturday, making way for long snapper Jon Weeks, who got promoted from the practice squad to the active roster. This move, happening halfway across the world, is way more than a simple roster swap. It screams confidence about a certain superstar tight end and shows how wild these international games can get.
The Long Snapper Saga and a Brutal Business Decision
So, why the sudden cut for Willis? Well, it all comes down to the bizarre world of NFL roster mechanics. Jon Weeks is the only long snapper on the team, but he wasn’t on the active roster going into the weekend. The 49ers had to do some serious roster gymnastics before the cut deadline back on August 30. Weeks was actually released then, which left the team with zero long snappers. He eventually landed on the practice squad, and now, with the opener against the Rams in Melbourne looming, he’s back on the active roster. You need a long snapper, right? But the timing and the location for Willis? Man, that’s stone cold. He’s been in the league since 2023, a seventh-round pick, and with less than four years of NFL experience, he’s hitting the waiver wire from literally the other side of the planet.
George Kittle’s Return and Willis’s Wild Ride Home (Or Not?)
Here’s where it gets really spicy. Willis is a tight end. The 49ers cutting a tight end right before the season kicks off, especially one who flew all that way, is a massive signal. It suggests the team is incredibly confident that superstar tight end George Kittle is ready to play on Thursday night, which is Friday morning in Melbourne. Kittle, who suffered an Achilles tear back in January, actually made the trip to Australia, and all signs are pointing to him being able to suit up. That’s huge news for them if it holds true!
But for Willis, his next move is wild: if he gets claimed by another team, he’s immediately flying *back* from Australia to join them. But if he goes unclaimed, 49ers beat writers are saying he’ll likely sign with San Francisco’s practice squad. And get this: if that happens, he could actually stay in Australia with the team. How bizarre is that? A player hoping *not* to get claimed! The 49ers could even promote him back to the active roster on game day if Kittle isn’t quite 100 percent. Keep an eye on their first injury report on Monday, because it’s going to tell us everything about Kittle’s status.
The travel headache doesn’t stop there. The 49ers also signed Khalid Kareem away from the Falcons’ practice squad this week. Kareem is looking at a roughly 21-hour flight from Atlanta just to join practice in Melbourne. This whole Australia adventure is throwing some serious curveballs at team logistics. It’s a wild start to the regular season, and that injury report on Monday is going to be a must-see.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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