Clemson Tigers fans watching the NFL preseason got another reminder this week of how quickly opportunities can shift for even the most battle-tested alumni.
Over the weekend, the San Francisco 49ers waived/injured edge rusher Xavier Thomas, the former Clemson standout who had signed a one-year deal with the team just 10 days earlier.
Thomas, a Florence, South Carolina native, spent six seasons in orange (2018-23), appearing in 61 games with 30 starts. He racked up 121 tackles, 17.5 sacks, seven passes defensed, six forced fumbles, and two recoveries.
A 2018 national champion and two-time third-team All-ACC selection, he was a reliable piece on some of Dabo Swinney’s most physical defenses.
Drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the fifth round (138th overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft, Thomas showed promise as a rookie with 10 tackles, 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a pass deflection in 14 games. Limited action followed in 2025 before Arizona waived him.
He finished the year on the Houston Texans’ practice squad, then signed a futures deal that didn’t stick. The 49ers gave him a fresh look on August 12 amid defensive line injuries, but the waived/injured designation came quickly as San Francisco re-signed tight end Khalil Dinkins.
For Tiger fans, the move stings less as a final verdict and more as another chapter in a tough transition.
Thomas always brought the motor and toughness Clemson fans expect—high-effort, physical play that translated well enough to earn draft capital and multiple roster spots.
The waived/injured tag means he can be claimed by another team or revert to the 49ers’ injured reserve, potentially opening the door for an injury settlement or a new opportunity elsewhere.
At 26, Thomas still has time. His Clemson résumé—longevity, production against elite competition, and championship DNA—remains the foundation.
Many Tigers have navigated similar roster churn before finding the right fit.
Whether he lands elsewhere this week or works back from the undisclosed issue, the Florence product’s story isn’t finished. Clemson supporters will keep watching, knowing the standard he set in Death Valley still carries weight in the pros.
