The San Francisco 49ers announced that they’ve signed defensive lineman Victor Dimukeje and offensive lineman Nick Zakelj to one-year deals heading into the second week of the preseason.
Zakelj was released eight days ago for Doug Kramer Jr. after he missed a week of practice with an elbow injury. To make room for those two, the team released running back Khalil Herbert and offensive lineman Kion Smith.
Smith played 33 snaps at right guard in last Thursday’s preseason game. He struggled against the run and also allowed a pair of pressures. His performance was enough to bring Zakelj back.
Dimukeje was drafted in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Duke by the Arizona Cardinals. He most recently played for the Giants last season. Dimukeje’s best season was in 2023, when he had 17 pressures and four sacks. He’s listed at 6’2″, 265 pounds.
Dimukeje only played 16 snaps for New York last season. His playing time has declined since ’23, going from 368 snaps to 152, before last year. He has dropped in coverage over the years, with at least four targets from 2022 through 2024.
The 49ers only used five edge rushers in their first preseason game. Dimukeje gives them another body to get through the preseason, especially if they’re not going to play Nick Bosa, and use Keion White or Sam Okuayinonu sparingly in games.