49ers make room for RB Sincere McCormick, waive Jordan Mims

The San Francisco 49ers announced they have signed running back Sincere McCormick to a one-year contract. To create space for the addition, the team simultaneously waived running back Jordan Mims, a common offseason roster maneuver as clubs sort out depth at key positions ahead of training camp.

For the 49ers, the timing and structure of the deal matter because a one-year agreement typically indicates a player is being brought in for immediate roster competition and depth. In a league where the running back room can turn over quickly due to performance, health management, and scheme fit, the club is using the offseason to evaluate multiple options and keep the backfield operational through the full training-camp and preseason cycle.

McCormick’s signing also reflects the way NFL teams build a running back group that can handle different game scripts and offensive needs. Even without additional specifics in the announcement, roster moves like this generally aim to ensure the team has enough players for install work, special teams contributions, and continuity across the preseason, when coaches look for consistent execution against a changing mix of opponents.

The corresponding waiver of Mims underscores the roster squeeze that teams face during the summer. NFL rosters are dynamic, and one transaction can trigger another simply to remain compliant with roster limits. A waiver does not automatically end a player’s path in the league, but it does mean the team is choosing to prioritize roster space and organizational fit at that moment.

The 49ers have long built their offense around execution and role clarity, particularly in the run game and in how backs support the wider system. Adding a new running back through a short-term deal gives the coaching staff another data point for how a player processes the offense, handles the physical demands of the position, and can be used in rotation if opportunities arise.

As the offseason continues, what to watch next is how quickly McCormick becomes part of the team’s early competition at the running back spot. For Mims, the next step is whether another team claims him or signs him after the waiver period, depending on that team’s needs and evaluation of his skill set.

From a team-building standpoint, this move is less about a single star announcement and more about roster precision. The 49ers used the first step, a signing, to bring in a new option, and used the second step, a waiver, to keep the roster shaped for camp. The impact will be measured later, when depth-chart battles are settled on the practice field and the preseason roster decisions come into focus.