49ers add RB Khalil Herbert, former Colts edge Titus Leo as roster shuffles continue

The San Francisco 49ers opened another round of NFL roster adjustments by signing running back Khalil Herbert to a one-year deal and adding Titus Leo, a former Colts sixth-round selection. The transactions, reported on Tuesday, highlight how San Francisco is balancing immediate depth needs with upside bets as teams head toward the regular season’s training-camp and roster-evaluation window.

Herbert’s signing is a straightforward addition of running back depth. Herbert has been used in varying roles during his NFL stops, and a one-year agreement gives the 49ers flexibility to evaluate both his impact and the broader backfield group without locking into a long-term commitment. For a team that typically prizes depth and situational versatility at the position, the move suggests San Francisco wanted another option for practices and preseason reps who can fit multiple run looks.

Alongside Herbert, the 49ers also brought in Titus Leo, a 6-foot-3, 245-pound defensive edge player drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2023 NFL Draft. According to the report, Leo has appeared in four NFL games across his time with the league so far, with his most recent action coming on the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad in October 2025. That background places him in the category of a developmental roster piece, one the 49ers can evaluate up close in camp while monitoring whether he can convert athletic traits into consistent snap production.

The 49ers’ additions came with corresponding roster movement. The report says San Francisco waived Eli Apple and also referenced Mikail Kamara as “waived/injured,” indicating the team made a status decision that reflects both availability and roster math. For fans, these paired changes matter because they show which areas the 49ers prioritized for new bodies and which roles became available after the decision-making process around those players.

Taken together, the Herbert and Leo signings suggest the 49ers are looking to reinforce both sides of the line of scrimmage with talent that may be underutilized or still searching for a defined role. Herbert gives the offense more competition in the running back room, while Leo provides the defense with an additional body at a spot that can be hard to stabilize strictly through existing starters and rotational depth. The waiver moves, meanwhile, create the necessary roster openings.

For what to watch next, the practical storyline will be how Herbert and Leo perform when the 49ers can evaluate them in full-team settings and against live opposition. Herbert’s path to value will likely depend on whether he can win reps as a rusher and as a pass-protection or receiving option. Leo’s path will be whether he can translate his pass-rush potential into repeatable rush-lane pressure, and whether the 49ers staff believes there is enough report for him to carve out a role beyond practice-squad status.