49ers re-sign TE Khalil Dinkins on three-year deal, waive/injure DL Xavier Thomas to clear roster space

The San Francisco 49ers announced they have re-signed tight end Khalil Dinkins to a three-year contract, a move that reshapes the team’s midseason roster planning by keeping another pass-catching option in the fold. The signing also came with a roster management decision, as the 49ers said they waived/injured defensive lineman Xavier Thomas to create space.

From a team-building standpoint, the Dinkins re-signing points to continued investment in the tight end position in an NFL offense that often relies on multiple alignment looks, including quick-hitting routes and tight end involvement in the passing game. A three-year commitment typically indicates that the organization sees Dinkins as more than a short-term body for training camp, and expects him to contribute across multiple seasons.

While the announcement confirms the contract length, it does not provide additional terms or performance details. What is clear is that the 49ers considered Dinkins valuable enough to keep him on a longer runway, rather than treating him as a purely depth-player option during the offseason and preseason process.

The corresponding move, waiving/injuring Xavier Thomas, reflects the roster realities teams manage throughout the year, especially during periods when personnel needs shift rapidly. The language “waived/injured” indicates the team initiated a transaction category tied to injury status while still using standard roster mechanisms to reduce the overall count. The practical effect is that Thomas’ status with the organization is no longer a straightforward active-roster designation in the near term.

For Dinkins, the re-signing raises the stakes for the tight end group’s training camp and preseason opportunities, where roles are set and depth charts take shape. Tight end is a position where coaching staff often evaluate both route execution and reliability after contact, and where competition can determine who earns sustained snaps and who serves as a game-day emergency option.

The 49ers’ decision also sets up an organizational expectation: with Dinkins under contract for the next three years, San Francisco can build continuity into its package planning, rather than constantly replacing personnel at the position. Meanwhile, clearing room by waiving/injuring Thomas suggests the team’s immediate needs outweighed keeping both players on the same active roster footprint.