49ers add Doug Kramer Jr., release Nick Zakelj in a center-focused roster move

The San Francisco 49ers made a targeted move on the offensive line on Monday, signing center Doug Kramer Jr. after he worked out with the team, and releasing Nick Zakelj as a corresponding roster adjustment. The announcement, reported by Yahoo Sports, frames the move as part of the 49ers’ search for consistency and depth at center during the preseason roster-building window.

According to the report, Kramer Jr. was one of three centers the 49ers worked out on Friday. That detail matters because it suggests San Francisco was actively evaluating multiple internal options at the same position in the same stretch, rather than filling a spot based on a single prior relationship or long-running camp look.

The departure of Zakelj was also positioned as a response to his limited impact since joining the team. Drafted by the 49ers in the sixth round of 2022, Zakelj appeared in 2024, but the report says he did not contribute in a meaningful way outside of that season. In roster terms, that description points to a player who had been given a chance to establish a role, but did not carve out enough playing-time value to remain on the active group.

For the 49ers, the center position carries outsized importance because it anchors the line’s communication and snap-balance, and it often becomes the pivot point for line calls, blocking protections, and adjustments at the line of scrimmage. Even when multiple players compete for snaps across the interior, the team’s preference is typically to settle on a group it trusts to coordinate quickly and correctly.

Kramer Jr.’s signing adds another name to that competition. The report does not provide a contract figure or a guaranteed role, but the fact pattern described, including that he was part of Friday’s workout group, suggests he is being evaluated for how quickly he can handle the technical and mental demands of playing center in the 49ers’ system.

The timing also reflects the NFL’s broader preseason cycle. Teams frequently rotate through workouts and tryouts to test fundamentals and coachability, especially along the offensive line where the margin for error is small and where depth matters because starters can miss practice time and reps during camp.

What to watch next is how the 49ers structure reps among their interior linemen at practice and whether Kramer Jr. emerges as a front-runner for early-season depth at center. Additional roster movement, including further auditions at the position group, would fit the pattern described in the report.

If the 49ers treat this as an attempt to sharpen their interior core, the competition could intensify closer to the regular season. Center roles, even those limited to spot duty, can quickly become more significant if injuries or performance gaps force teams to rely on depth earlier than expected.