The Bengals claimed Jordan Jefferson off waivers from the 49ers to bolster interior depth, reshaping a DT room that already features Slaton, Hill, Jenkins Jr. and Pennel. Cross III was waived to make room. Jefferson showed burst and upside as a rookie but must refine technique to maximize run disruption. With McKinnley Jackson pushing for snaps, Cincinnati is betting on a deeper, more flexible frontline for late-season battles.

Fantasy managers should watch how Jefferson earns his role: early down run defense and quick, disruptive bursts could unlock extra snaps in rotation. If he translates college upside to NFL consistency, Jefferson might push for meaningful group reps in a unit built to lean on youth and upside down the stretch.

Brock Purdy is inactive for Week 3 as San Francisco lists six inactives, including Jauan Jennings and Jordan Watkins. The 49ers must navigate the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium with a backup quarterback and a thinner receiving corps. Kickoff is 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX. The absence of Purdy shifts the game plan toward the run game and reserve options, elevating fantasy risk and opportunity for others on SF and for Cardinals defenders in deeper formats.

The 49ers bolster interior DL depth by re-signing Evan Anderson to the practice squad after he cleared waivers, a move that could anchor a deeper rotation in Year 2. Anderson logged 24 tackles, 1.0 sack and 267 defensive snaps across 12 games as a rookie and now returns to SF’s stack. The club also claimed Jordan Jefferson from Jacksonville to add interior push. On offense, SF filled out PS groups with Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Adrian Martinez and Sincere McCormick, enhancing WR, QB and RB depth ahead of the season.

These moves signal a plan to keep a robust pipeline for injuries and matchup-based rotations, especially along the defensive line where questions linger around interior production. The 49ers still face roster math to clear space, but the core intent is clear: more reliable depth and more flexible options across multiple packages and situations.

Meanwhile, the linked note about Jauan Jennings hints at contract questions as SF charts its long-term core, adding intrigue to how this PS abundance might influence future cap decisions and on-field roles during the grind of a full season.

The Bengals failed to claim anyone off waivers on Wednesday, losing a bid to the 49ers for Jordan Jefferson. Cincinnati was 17th in waiver priority, while San Francisco sat at 11, with 24 of 28 claimed players having a higher spot. Jefferson, a 2024 fourth-round pick, flashed in eight games with 12 tackles and a sack. Cincinnati already carries six defensive tackles and could cut one to clear room for Dalton Risner, who signed Wednesday. The ripple: would the risk of losing Jefferson have altered Risner’s move or the interior‑line plan?

Jefferson’s departure would not only shift depth charts but highlight Cincinnati’s ongoing DT search. The Bengals’ current interior group—Slaton, Hill, Jenkins Jr., Jackson, Cross III and Gregory—faces notable turnover pressure if Jefferson had landed. Risner’s addition then factors into a larger turnover narrative, suggesting Cincinnati remains intent on bolstering both lines as the season progresses, with potential fantasy implications depending on who stays and who goes.