San Francisco 49ers release Jon Weeks and Corliss Waitman to manage roster

The San Francisco 49ers released long snapper Jon Weeks and punter Corliss Waitman on Sunday during the team's final roster cutdown. Although the moves left the organization without specialists at these positions, the decision was a procedural maneuver to gain roster flexibility. Because both players are vested veterans, they became unrestricted free agents rather than moving through the waiver system. This temporary roster spot clearance allows the team to place other players on injured reserve before potentially re-signing the specialists. The 49ers had already used their two allowed pre-cut injured reserve designations on Austen Pleasants and Christian Kirk. The team expects to fill the vacancies before traveling to face the Los Angeles Rams for the Week 1 opener in Australia.

• 3:00 AMYahoo Sports — Explaining the 49ers' very odd pair of roster moves on cutdown day