A late roster replacement earlier this season, Dre Kirkpatrick is now on the waiver wire for the first time. The 49ers moved on from the veteran cornerback Tuesday.
The former first-round pick played in six 49ers games this season, making one start for a team that has dealt with some injury issues at corner over the past two months. Despite vested-veteran status, Kirkpatrick will head to waivers because the trade deadline has passed.
Kirkpatrick did not play Monday night due to an ankle injury, one that kept him out of practice throughout last week. Kirkpatrick, 32, has been with the Cardinals and 49ers since his eight-season Bengals run wrapped after the 2019 season. He made 11 starts for the Cards last season.
San Francisco used Emmanuel Moseley and Josh Norman as its outside cornerback starters against the Rams. The Niners also drafted two corners — Ambry Thomas (Round 3) and Deommodore Lenoir (Round 5) — this year. Kirkpatrick ended up playing 25% of San Francisco’s defensive snaps this season and was a special teams regular.
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