49ers sign Matthew Judon to practice squad amid defensive-line injuries

The 49ers added four-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Matthew Judon to their practice squad Monday as injuries continue to narrow their defensive-line choices. The club confirmed the signing in a roster announcement. It is a practice-squad transaction: Judon is not yet on San Francisco’s 53-man roster, and the team has not announced that he will play Sunday against Denver.

The timing matters. Nick Bosa missed the Week 3 win over Arizona with a calf injury, and San Francisco’s pregame report also ruled out defensive linemen Romello Height and James Thompson Jr. The team said last week that Bosa could miss several weeks while it considered whether injured reserve made sense. Monday’s Judon move adds an experienced option without itself settling Bosa’s roster status.

Judon has 72 career sacks in 145 games, including 100 starts, according to the 49ers’ announcement. He made four Pro Bowls from 2020 through 2023. Those career totals establish why San Francisco would consider him, but they do not establish his current snap count or pass-rush role. Judon spent time with Miami and Buffalo last season, and the club placed him on its practice-squad list after the Monday signing.

For a front office, this is a depth and timing move. Practice-squad players can provide a week of evaluation and a path to a game-day elevation, while the 53-man roster can be addressed separately if the team needs a longer-term replacement. NBC Sports reported that San Francisco worked out four players before signing Judon. The team will have to decide whether his readiness and fit justify an elevation as its injured edge group recovers.

The 49ers are 3-0 after beating Arizona 36-30 and next host Denver. San Francisco’s Week 4 injury report will tell more about Bosa and the other linemen; a Monday practice-squad signing alone does not certify who will be available. For now, the confirmed roster change is Judon’s addition to the reserve group and the option it gives the club if its defensive-line shortage persists.