The San Francisco 49ers announced on Sunday that they have claimed defensive lineman Xavier Cooper off waivers from the Cleveland Browns. In order to make room on the roster, the team has placed defensive lineman Ronald Blair III on the Injured Reserve List. The team also announced they have signed eight players to the team's practice squad. Each of the eight players spent the 2017 training camp with the 49ers.

The following players have signed to the team's practice squad:

Pos.          Name                              

WR           DeAndre Carter

OL            John Flynn

TE            Cole Hikutini

CB            Asa Jackson

QB            Nick Mullens

DL            Noble Nwachukwu

WR           DeAndre Smelter

OL            Darrell Williams Jr.

Cooper (6-4, 300) was originally drafted by the Browns in the third round (96th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft. In two seasons (2015-16), he appeared in 27 games (two starts) and registered 39 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Last season, he saw action in 13 games, including the first two starts of his career, and finished with 20 tackles. He was waived by the team on September 2, 2017.

A 25-year-old native of Tacoma, WA, Cooper attended Washington State University (2011-14), where he appeared in 36 games (34 starts) and registered 121 tackles, 31.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. As a redshirt junior in 2014, he started all 12 games and finished with 37 tackles, a team-high 9.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. Blair III (6-4, 270) was originally drafted by the team as the first of three fifth-round selections (142nd overall) in the 2016 NFL Draft. He appeared in all 16 games as a rookie last season, finishing with 18 tackles and three sacks.