Few setbacks in the NFL compare to being waived, but experiencing that release immediately following a grueling 16-hour flight to Australia is a unique disappointment. Sadly, this was the reality for San Francisco 49ers tight end Brayden Willis this past Saturday.
The team waived Willis in order to clear a roster spot for long snapper Jon Weeks, who was elevated from the practice squad to the active lineup.
As the squad’s sole specialist at his position, Weeks initially missed out on the active roster ahead of the weekend due to some late-August roster maneuvering prior to the August 30 roster-downsizing deadline. His brief termination right before that cutoff left the franchise with no active long snappers on the squad. However, after subsequently joining the practice squad, Weeks has returned to the active roster just in time for San Francisco’s preparations for their season-opening game against the Rams in Melbourne.
While Weeks’ promotion is the primary transaction, Willis’s predicament remains noteworthy, as he faces the prospect of embarking on another 16-hour journey back home shortly after arriving in Melbourne. Drafted by San Francisco in the seventh round of the 2023 draft, the second-year player has less than four years of league service, meaning he must clear the waiver process. Should an opposing franchise claim his contract, he will have to depart Australia right away to report to his new organization.
Naturally, this represents a rare scenario where a player is likely rooting to bypass waivers entirely. Local reporters covering the 49ers pointed out on Saturday that if the young tight end goes unclaimed by other clubs, he is anticipated to re-sign with San Francisco’s practice squad, allowing him to remain in Australia alongside his teammates.
LATEST UPDATE (SUNDAY NIGHT, 9/6/26): Having cleared waivers without being claimed, Willis has officially joined the 49ers’ practice squad, meaning he is permitted to REMAIN in Australia.
The implications of Willis’s departure for George Kittle
From a depth-chart perspective, parting ways with Willis is a highly intriguing strategic choice. Because Willis plays tight end, his release suggests the coaching staff feels highly optimistic about George Kittle’s availability for the upcoming matchup against the Rams, scheduled for Thursday night in the US, which corresponds to Friday morning in Melbourne.
Kittle, who has been recovering from an Achilles tendon tear sustained in January, traveled with the team to Australia, and signs are pointing toward his return to action.
Even so, with Willis now safely on the practice squad, San Francisco retains the option of elevating him on game day if Kittle requires more recovery time. Consequently, fans and analysts will be watching closely when the team issues its inaugural weekly injury report on Monday.
Additionally, San Francisco completed another roster transaction this week by signing defender Khalid Kareem off the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad. As a result, Kareem must undertake a grueling journey of roughly 21 hours from Georgia to Australia to participate in the team’s practice sessions starting this week.
Evidently, scheduling a game in Australia introduces significant travel and roster complications. Waiving an athlete abroad means they might be forced to head right back to the airport (league rules dictate that the team must handle and finance all return travel logistics for any player released during an international trip to ensure they get back to the US), whereas recruiting a new player demands that they rapidly arrange transoceanic travel on short notice.
