49ers Suddenly Terminate Contract of 25-Year-Old Defender

The San Francisco 49ers have released 25-year-old cornerback Jakob Robinson from the practice squad, ending his second year with the organization before he ever appeared in a regular-season game, via the NFL transaction wire.

The move was announced Wednesday, Sept. 23, as part of a cluster of roster transactions.

San Francisco signed defensive lineman Naquan Jones from Minnesota’s practice squad to a one-year contract, added veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks and defensive lineman Viliami Fehoko Jr. to the practice squad, and placed defensive lineman C.J. West on injured reserve.

Robinson’s practice-squad spot was the one sacrificed to create room.

Robinson, born Oct. 10, 2000, in Orem, Utah, signed with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent out of BYU after the 2025 draft.

Listed at 5-foot-10 and 181 pounds, he ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at his pro day and finished his college career with 11 interceptions over five seasons at Utah State and BYU, earning second-team All-Big 12 honors as a senior.

His professional path never gained traction. In the 2025 preseason finale against the Chargers, he suffered a broken forearm and spent his entire rookie year on injured reserve.

He returned in 2026, played through the preseason as a depth corner and special-teamer, then was waived during final cuts on Aug. 30 and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. He never reached the active roster.

The original three-year undrafted deal, worth nearly $3 million with $120,000 guaranteed, had already been terminated when he was waived at the end of camp.

The practice-squad contract he signed afterward carried no guarantees. Over The Cap lists that first contract as terminated after he earned $510,000 in 2025.

For San Francisco, the decision is straightforward roster math. After a 2-0 start, the team needed interior-line depth and veteran receiving help more than a fifth or sixth corner who had yet to play a snap.

Robinson can now sign with any club’s practice squad or try out elsewhere; because he was released from the practice squad rather than the 53-man roster, other teams can add him without placing him on waivers.

The 49ers have a long history of developing undrafted defensive backs, but Robinson’s injury and the subsequent logjam at cornerback closed that window in Santa Clara.

At 25, he still has time to land somewhere that needs a compact, ball-hawking nickel or special-teams contributor. For now, his brief tenure with San Francisco is over.