49ers Place TE Jake Tonges On IR

Tonges played a 17-game season last year and became an unsung hero on an injury-plagued San Francisco team. As multiple injuries limited elite tight end George Kittle to 11 games, Tonges hauled in 34 of 46 targets for 293 yards and five touchdowns. It was unexpected production from Tonges, who entered the season with zero catches in 20 career games.

Tonges became a restricted free agent in the offseason, but the 49ers kept him around on a two-year, $8MM deal with $5.5MM in guarantees. When the 49ers re-signed Tonges, Kittle was just two months removed from tearing his Achilles in a wild-card round win over the Eagles. While there was uncertainty hovering over Kittle then, he made a quick enough recovery to return for the 49ers’ season opener in Australia. That’s all the more fortunate in light of Tonges’ injury.

The 49ers still have Luke Farrell and Brayden Willis behind Kittle on their 53-man roster, but they signed Jack Stoll to their practice squad as insurance. Stoll, a five-year veteran who spent parts of four seasons with the Eagles, played 15 games with the Saints in 2025. He caught six passes, including his first career touchdown. Mainly a blocking tight end, the 28-year-old has totaled 28 catches and 239 yards in 76 games.

Stoll will replace wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge on San Francisco’s practice squad. The team promoted Hodge to its 53-man roster on Wednesday. The 49ers elevated Hodge and deployed him on 13 snaps (12 on special teams) in their opener. Now in his ninth year, Hodge was mostly a special-teamer in past stints with the Rams, Browns, Lions and Falcons. He made his lone Pro Bowl in 2024.