The San Francisco 49ers have released linebacker Eugene Asante from their practice squad to clear space for the re-signing of defensive lineman Naquan Jones, the team announced.
Asante’s time with the club lasted less than a week.
The 49ers signed the 25-year-old undrafted free agent to the practice squad on October 15 after he participated in a group of linebacker workouts.
The move came while the team managed depth concerns at the position, including a suspension for Dre Greenlaw and a hamstring injury to Garret Wallow.
Asante, listed at 6-foot-1 and 222 pounds, has yet to appear in an NFL regular-season game.
He entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Miami Dolphins in May 2025 and has since spent time on practice squads with the Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, and Arizona Cardinals.
He was released by Arizona on October 13 before landing in San Francisco two days later.
Earlier in 2026 he played for the Houston Gamblers of the UFL, recording 34 tackles, two passes defensed, and two forced fumbles across nine games.
The Alexandria, Virginia, native built a productive college résumé at North Carolina (2019-21) and Auburn (2022-24). Across 65 games he totaled 196 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks.
In 2023 at Auburn, he led the team with 86 tackles and 5.0 sacks, earned third-team All-SEC honors, and was named SEC co-Defensive Player of the Week after a 12-tackle, one-sack performance against California. He also returned a fumble 67 yards for a touchdown that season and served as a team captain in 2024.
A four-star high school prospect out of Westfield High School in Chantilly, Virginia, Asante was named Northern Virginia’s defensive player of the year as a senior. His older brother, Larry Asante, played five seasons in the NFL.
Jones, the player who replaced him on the practice squad, is a more experienced veteran.
The 6-foot-3, 313-pound defensive lineman has appeared in 63 career games with eight starts and has recorded 104 tackles and 6.5 sacks across stints with several teams, including a recent three-game stretch with the 49ers earlier this season before being released on October 20.
Asante’s short tenure reflects the fluid nature of practice squad rosters, particularly for undrafted linebackers seeking their first regular-season opportunity.
The 49ers continue to prioritize defensive line depth heading into their Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
