In corresponding moves, San Francisco also signed defensive lineman Xavier Thomas, waived wide receiver Junior Bergen and punter Jack Bouwmeester, and waived defensive lineman K.J. Henry with an injury designation.
The Bouwmeester move leaves veteran Corliss Waitman as the only punter left on the 90-man roster.
A Crisis That Forced The Move
The signing follows a stretch where four of San Francisco's running backs missed practice simultaneously. Christian McCaffrey sat out with tightness, Jordan James is dealing with fractured ribs, Kaelon Black has an adductor injury, and Isaac Guerendo remains on the PUP list recovering from a torn pectoral.
Former Raiders RB Zamir White is signing with the 49ers.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 12, 2026
That left Patrick Taylor Jr., Sincere McCormick, and recently signed veteran Khalil Herbert as the only healthy options on an eight-man depth chart heading into a joint practice with the Titans and Thursday's preseason opener.
San Francisco worked out White alongside Nyheim Miller-Hines on Monday and also hosted running back Blake Watson on a visit before deciding on White.
Why White Fits
White, 26, spent four seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders after they took him in the fourth round of the 2022 draft out of Georgia, where he was part of a national championship team. His best season came in 2023, when he rushed for 451 yards and a touchdown, but he became expendable in Las Vegas once the Raiders drafted Ashton Jeanty sixth overall this year, closing out his rookie deal as strictly a backup.
🚨🚨 BREAKING: The #49ers are signing former #Raiders RB Zamir White pic.twitter.com/oNgHX8D6u8
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) August 12, 2026
He now becomes the rare rookie-contract player to play for three different full-time head coaches with the same franchise, having played under Josh McDaniels, Antonio Pierce, and Pete Carroll during his Raiders tenure.
This marks his first opportunity since his rookie deal expired in March, and it comes on a 49ers offense that leans on the run as heavily as almost any team in the league. With McCaffrey's absence considered more precautionary than serious, White likely slots in as depth insurance rather than an immediate feature back, but the timing gives him a real chance to carve out a role if any of San Francisco's top four backs need more time to heal.
