49ers make roster moves ahead of Commanders game

Danny Gray won't be making his first appearance of the 2023 season in Week 17. The San Francisco 49ers wide receiver has been downgraded to out ahead of the Niners' road game with the Washington Commanders.

The second year wideout had spent the entire season on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, but had his 21-day practice window opened this week.

He practiced in full all week but has not been activated to the 53-man roster as the 49ers look to bounce back from their Christmas Day loss to the Baltimore Ravens and maintain their grip on the one seed in the NFC.

Instead, with Jauan Jennings out with a concussion, the 49ers have elevated Tay Martin. The second-year receiver played twice for San Francisco last season but the meeting with the Commanders will mark his 2023 debut.

As well as Martin, the 49ers have also elevated veteran safety Erik Harris.

The 49ers did not elevate an offensive lineman from the practice squad, indicating that left guard Aaron Banks, listed as questionable with a toe injury, will be able to play in another boost to quarterback Brock Purdy after a Week 16 game in which his offensive line was decimated in the second half.

Harris and slot corner Isaiah Oliver will be the primary backups at a safety position where the 49ers have been hit by the injury bug. Rookie starter Ji'Ayir Brown, who replaced All-Pro Talanoa Hufanga after he was placed on injured reserve with a torn ACL, is out with a knee sprain.

Veteran Logan Ryan is set to start next to Tashaun Gipson in Brown's absence.