The 49ers filled their only roster opening today by signing safety Darcel McBath, a second-round pick by the Denver Broncos in 2009. McBath fizzled in Denver, and he was cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars in April. The 49ers now are at the 90-player limit for training camp. The 49ers list McBath as a cornerback.
McBath (6-1, 200) joins a safety group that is waiting for one of its starters, Dashon Goldson, to sign the franchise tender offered him in February. Last week, a deadline passed for Goldson to sign a multi-year deal with the team. Now his only options are to sign the one-year tender - worth $6.2 million - or not play at all this year. Goldson seemed resigned to playing under the one-year deal during a recent interview.
The other safeties on the 49ers' roster include Donte Whitner, C.J. Spillman, sixth-round pick Trenton Robinson, Mark LeGree, Cory Nelms, Colin Jones and undrafted rookie Michael Thomas.
McBath, 26, played at Texas Tech where he was a teammate of Michael Crabtree's and where he tied for third in the NCAA as a senior with seven interceptions. McBath also was teammates in Denver with cornerback Perrish Cox, whom the 49ers signed in March. Cox was impressive during spring practices and is fighting for a role in the 49ers' secondary this season.
Both Cox and McBath played under 49ers secondary coach Ed Donatell in Denver.
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The 49ers placed both guard Joe Looney (foot) and running back Jewel Hampton (undisclosed injury) on the non-football injury list. Both rookies suffered injuries before joining the 49ers. Looney hurt his foot during Senior Bowl practices in January. He is expected to return at some point during training camp. Fifth-round pick Darius Fleming was placed on the physically unable to perform list.
All three can be taken off the injury list at any time, and it appears as if Looney will be practicing in a matter of weeks. If they remain on the lists after cut-down day, they will not count against the 53-man limit, but they also will not be able to play during the first half of the season. The 49ers will have a three-week window beginning at any point from Week 6-9 for which to evaluate the players and decide whether to activate them, release them or place them on injured reserve.
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Rookies and selected veterans will begin training-camp practice today. Those sessions are not open to the media. The full squad will practice for the first time Friday. That session and the ensuing sessions are open.
-- Matt Barrows
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