49ers release veteran D-lineman ahead of Seahawks clash

The San Francisco 49ers announced several roster moves on Saturday, a day before their Week 5 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. However, one move that the team did not announce appeared on the NFL transaction report: the release of veteran defensive lineman Matthew Judon.

Judon was on the 49ers practice squad. San Francisco signed him on September 28, and he appeared in one game this season, against the Denver Broncos, recording one tackle across 14 defensive snaps.

The Baltimore Ravens selected Judon out of Grand Valley State in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He spent his first five NFL seasons in Baltimore before signing a four-year contract with the New England Patriots in 2021.

In August 2024, the Patriots traded Judon to the Atlanta Falcons, where he spent one season.

A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Judon played for the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills in 2025. According to Pro Football Reference, he recorded 19 tackles, one tackle for a loss, three quarterback hits, and one pass defensed that season.

Over 10 NFL seasons, Judon has appeared in 146 games, totaling 430 tackles, 72 sacks, 95 tackles for a loss, one interception, one defensive touchdown, nine forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries.