49ers announce roster moves ahead of East Coast bout with Giants

On Saturday, the San Francisco 49ers announced the following roster moves ahead of Sunday's game with the New York Giants:

• Elevated DL Clelin Ferrell from the team's practice squad (standard elevation)
• Elevated OL Nick Zakelj from the practice squad (standard elevation)
• Activated OL Spencer Burford off IR (injured reserve)
• Placed DL Yetur Gross-Matos on IR

Ferrell is in his seventh NFL season. The 49ers signed him this week after suffering more injuries along the defensive line. This is Ferrell's second stint with the 49ers. He last played in San Francisco during the 2023 season, in which the 49ers made it to the Super Bowl.

In that 2023 season, Ferrell started 17 games for the 49ers. He had 3.5 sacks and 13 QB hits. Last season, while with the Washington Commanders, Ferrell started 10 games and finished with 3.5 sacks. He has appeared in only one game this season, playing for the Los Angeles Chargers. Ferrell will wear number 96 on Sunday.

Zakelj, who has two starts in his four NFL seasons, has appeared in two games for the 49ers this season, playing on offense and some special teams. Like last week, Zakelj will likely serve as Matt Hennessey's backup at center, due to the injury to starter Jake Brendel.

Burford has been on IR with a knee injury since September. He has appeared in two games this season, playing mostly on special teams. Burford started 16 games at right guard for the 49ers in 2022, as a rookie. In 2023, he started 13 games at right guard before losing his job to veteran Jon Feliciano. He has not started a game since 2023.

Gross-Matos had a strong start to the 2025 season before a hamstring injury took him off the field. In the five games he played, Gross-Matos had one pass defended, four tackles, and one QB hit. The former Carolina Panther came to the 49ers via free agency in 2024. Since arriving in San Francisco, Gross-Matos has appeared in only 16 games.

In addition, OL Ben Bartch's game status has been downgraded from questionable to out. Also, DT Jordan Elliott has been upgraded from questionable and will be available Sunday.