Why the 49ers released and re-signed Logan Thomas before the season finale – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

Veteran tight end Logan Thomas returned to the 49ers last week after the club reluctantly let him go a few weeks earlier.

It seems like the 49ers want to keep Thomas – either as part of the 53-man roster or on the practice squad.

“Logan was not a guy we wanted to let go,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Sunday in a conference call with Bay Area reporters.

“He just had his injury and stuff. We had a few other issues with the squad and we told him that if we could get him back in the team beforehand, we would hire him back as long as he got healthy again.”

Thomas, 33, caught 55 passes for 496 yards and four touchdowns last season with the Washington Commanders. The 49ers signed him to a one-year contract in the offseason.

After Thomas missed several practices with a hamstring injury, the 49ers released him on Aug. 9. He was re-signed last week but did not play in the team’s final preseason game Friday night against the Las Vegas Raiders.

“We had a spot for him and I think he had some opportunities with other teams,” Shanahan said. “But he wanted to come back here and we were very happy about that because we really wanted him back.”

The 49ers have kept four tight ends on their 53-man roster over the past few seasons, and there doesn’t seem to be a clear lineup behind five-time Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle.

Thomas rejoins a group of tight ends that also includes Brayden Willis, Eric Saubert, Cameron Latu, Jake Tonges and undrafted rookie Mason Pline.

Teams across the NFL must reduce their rosters to the regular season limit of 53 players by 1 p.m. Tuesday.

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