49ers fill spots on defense and backfield with one-year additions from Eli Apple, Xavier Thomas, Zamir White

The San Francisco 49ers announced they have signed cornerback Eli Apple, defensive lineman Xavier Thomas and running back Zamir White to one-year contracts as the team continues to assemble its 53-man group for the 2026 season.

According to the team’s official announcement, the transaction activity was driven by the need to create room on the roster. In corresponding moves, San Francisco waived wide receiver Junior Bergen and punter Jack Bouwmeester.

The 49ers also reported that they waived/injured defensive lineman K.J. Henry. The “waived/injured” designation is part of the NFL’s injury process and can lead to different outcomes depending on how the player clears waivers and how the team’s medical status develops.

For Apple, the signing gives the 49ers another veteran presence in a defensive back room that typically demands versatility and depth to handle injuries, matchups, and rotation across the season. For Thomas, it adds another option along the defensive line, where the 49ers have to maintain pressure production while managing wear over a full slate of games.

White’s addition targets depth and competition in the backfield. In training camp and the preseason, teams often look to establish a clear hierarchy at running back and to identify which players can contribute as runners, pass protectors, and receivers out of the backfield.

The roster churn also underscores how the 49ers are treating the final weeks of training camp and preseason preparation. With multiple signings coming through one-year deals, the team’s focus appears to be on short-term flexibility, with each added player competing for a role rather than locking into long commitments.

What to watch next is how these moves affect the pecking order at each position during the final evaluation window. The 49ers will need to determine which combinations of cornerbacks, front-seven rotation pieces, and ballcarriers best fit their game-plan and remain available when the season proper begins.