49ers place Sam Okuayinonu on IL, sign ex-Bengals, Falcons DL

The San Francisco 49ers hit a late snag in their preparations for the Week 1 international opener against the Los Angeles Rams, forcing the front office to make a quick adjustment to the defensive line.

The 49ers officially signed veteran defensive lineman Khalid Kareem to a one-year deal and placed defensive end Sam Okuayinonu on the Injured Reserve list. Okuayinonu sustained a foot injury during practice in Santa Clara and did not join the team on their flight to Melbourne, Australia. Losing Okuayinonu for at least the first four games creates a temporary void upfront, as the 28-year-old established himself as a reliable rotational piece last year. Okuayinonu logged 39 total tackles, 3.0 sacks, and a forced fumble across 15 games and 12 starts in 2025.

To shore up their pass-rushing depth, San Francisco poached Kareem off the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad. The 28-year-old edge defender immediately boarded a flight Down Under to join the active roster ahead of kickoff. Drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals out of Notre Dame, Kareem brings six years of league experience to the Bay Area. Across 34 career games with Cincinnati, the Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, and Atlanta, Kareem has recorded 41 tackles, 1.0 sack, and a forced fumble.

The transition should be seamless for the veteran lineman. Kareem spent the past two seasons in Atlanta playing under current 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. That system familiarity will prove crucial as San Francisco integrates him into the rotational mix alongside Keion White, especially with star edge rusher Nick Bosa managing knee tendinitis. Expect Kareem to get up to speed quickly as the 49ers kick off their campaign abroad.

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