49ers announce roster moves ahead of Week 2

The San Francisco 49ers have promoted tight end Brayden Willis to the active roster and signed defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson to the team's practice squad. CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz first reported Jackson's signing.

Willis' promotion follows tight end Jake Tonges' knee injury during the 49ers' Week 1 win over the Los Angeles Rams.

"It wasn't good," head coach Kyle Shanahan admitted after the game. "I mean, it's not an ACL. It's MCL, I believe. But there's some issues with it that we've got to see how it is. There's a little more information to it, but we don't know yet."

Willis earned a spot on the initial 53-man roster but was waived and then re-signed to the practice squad while the 49ers were in Melbourne, Australia, ahead of Week 1.

The 49ers Communications staff provided the following rundown.

Willis (6-4, 240) was originally drafted by the 49ers in the seventh round (247th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft. Throughout his three-year NFL career with the 49ers (2023-25), he has appeared in 23 regular-season games and recorded nine special teams tackles. He has also appeared in four postseason contests, recording one special teams tackle. In 2025, Willis spent time on the team's practice squad and appeared in six games, registering six special teams tackles. He most recently signed to the team's practice squad on September 7, 2026.

A 26-year-old native of Arlington, TX, Willis attended the University of Oklahoma for five seasons (2018-22), where he appeared in 58 games (25 starts) and totaled 75 receptions for 998 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Jackson (6-2, 330) was originally drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round (97th overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft. Throughout his two-year NFL career with the Bengals (2024-25), he has appeared in 22 games (one start) and registered 22 tackles, 1.0 sack, and one forced fumble. In 2025, Jackson appeared in nine games with the Bengals and totaled seven tackles.

A 24-year-old native of Lucedale, MS, Jackson attended Texas A&M University for four seasons (2020-23), where he appeared in 40 games (24 starts) and registered 91 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, two passes defensed, and one forced fumble.