The San Francisco 49ers have added linebacker Eugene Asante after he stood out in a workout this week, according to KNBR’s Larry Krueger.
The move addresses a thinning linebacker group as the team prepares for its Monday night game against the Washington Commanders.
Asante, 25, took a winding path to the NFL. He began his college career at North Carolina, playing from 2019 to 2021, before transferring to Auburn for his final two seasons.
Across both programs, he appeared in 65 games and finished with 196 tackles, 7.5 sacks, two pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble. He earned All-SEC recognition once during his time on the Plains.
After going undrafted in 2025, Asante signed with the Miami Dolphins as a free agent out of Auburn. He was among the final cuts during roster reductions and later joined Cleveland’s practice squad in October.
The Browns released him in December, after which he finished the season on Arizona’s practice squad.
He returned to the Cardinals for training camp in 2026, began the year on their practice squad, and was released earlier this month. Throughout that stretch he never appeared in a regular-season NFL game.
Between those NFL stops he also played for the Houston Gamblers of the UFL in 2026. In nine games he recorded 34 tackles, two pass breakups, and two forced fumbles, giving him meaningful professional snaps outside the league.
The 49ers hosted four linebackers for workouts on Wednesday—Asante along with Jamon Johnson, Kobe King, and Anfernee Orji—before settling on Asante. The timing makes sense given the current roster situation.
Starting linebacker Dre Greenlaw is suspended, and Garret Wallow is dealing with a hamstring injury suffered in Week 5 against the Seattle Seahawks.
Those absences have created a clear need for additional depth at the position heading into the middle of the season.
Krueger, a former scout who has followed Asante’s career, described the signing positively, highlighting the linebacker’s speed, aggressiveness, and range.
For a player who has spent the bulk of his professional career on practice squads and in the UFL, the opportunity in San Francisco offers a fresh chance to prove he can contribute at the NFL level.
Whether the addition is intended for the active roster or the practice squad remains to be seen, but it gives the 49ers another body who knows the position and has already demonstrated productivity against professional competition.
As the team navigates injuries and suspensions, Asante’s arrival provides a practical reinforcement while the staff evaluates how much he can help in the weeks ahead.
