49ers give clue to starter's availability with latest roster moves

Willie Snead IV spent three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, and the veteran wide receiver looks set to play a role in the San Francisco 49ers potentially setting up a Super Bowl encounter against his old team.

Snead was one of two players elevated from the practice squad for Sunday's NFC Championship Game.

His elevation comes despite Deebo Samuel being cleared to play after recovering from a shoulder injury. Snead will likely serve as extra insurance if Samuel goes down again. The 49ers appear reluctant to rely on rookie Ronnie Bell in the postseason, having made the seventh-round pick inactive for last week's divisional round win over the Green Bay Packers.

Joining Snead in being elevated is linebacker Curtis Robinson.

That decision appears to indicate that starting SAM linebacker Oren Burks will not be available. Burks suffered a shoulder injury in practice this week and is listed as questionable.

Defensive tackle Kalia Davis, who had his 21-day practice window opened earlier this week, has been downgraded to out.