49ers to sign former Raiders UDFA before facing Raiders in preseason

The San Francisco 49ers are set to bolster their defensive line ahead of their preseason showdown against the Las Vegas Raiders. According to sources, the 49ers have reached an agreement with edge rusher Jah Joyner, who will join the team for the final days of the 49ers' preseason schedule. Joyner, a former undrafted free agent from the 2025 draft, made a tryout appearance with the 49ers on Wednesday.

The 49ers are currently facing roster challenges, with defensive end Nick Bosa sidelined due to a knee injury and rookie Romello Height dealing with an ankle issue. These absences could leave the 49ers even thinner during their match against the Raiders, prompting concerns about players like Keion White and Sam Okuayinonu potentially missing the game.

This signing marks the second defensive end the 49ers have acquired in the preseason's final week, following the addition of former Dallas Cowboys fourth-round pick Viliami Fehoko. Joyner will participate in Thursday's game and is expected to undergo a few more practices to determine if he will make the practice squad. Joyner's NFL career thus far has been limited, with only a brief stint with the Las Vegas Raiders in the offseason, where he failed to earn a roster spot following the 2025 draft.

In his college days at the University of Minnesota, Joyner showcased promising skills, recording 14.5 sacks over five seasons, with a significant portion of those sacks coming in the latter two years.