49ers announce roster moves ahead of Broncos preseason game

The San Francisco 49ers have signed running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn to a one-year deal. To make room on the roster, the team waived offensive lineman Zack Johnson.

San Francisco is preparing to host the Denver Broncos at Levi's Stadium tonight in their preseason opener.

The 49ers Communications staff provided the following rundown.

Vaughn (5-10, 214) was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round (76th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft. Throughout his five-year NFL career with the Buccaneers (2020-23), New England Patriots (2023-24) and 49ers (2024), Vaughn has appeared in 46 games (one start) and registered 105 carries for 388 yards (3.7 average) and two touchdowns on the ground to go along with 14 receptions for 81 yards (5.8 average) and one touchdown through the air. In 2024, Vaughn signed to San Francisco's practice squad on August 29, 2024, where he appeared in three games and registered two carries for four yards before he was released by the team on January 13, 2025.

A 28-year-old native of Nashville, TN, Vaughn attended the University of Illinois (2015-17) before transferring to Vanderbilt University for three seasons (2017-20), where he appeared in 46 games (29 starts) and tallied 572 carries for 3,296 yards and 30 touchdowns on the ground and added 67 receptions for 664 yards and three touchdowns through the air.

Johnson (6-6, 301) originally signed to the team's practice squad on December 31, 2024, and later signed a Reserve/Future contract with San Francisco on January 6, 2025.