Fri May 09 19:10:00 UTC 2025: ## 49ers Waive Injured Defensive End Drake Jackson
**San Francisco, CA** – The San Francisco 49ers have waived former second-round pick Drake Jackson, the team announced Friday. The move comes after Jackson missed the entire 2024 season due to a knee injury suffered in 2023. While expected to be cleared by training camp, the 49ers designated the move as a failed physical.
Jackson, 24, played in 15 games as a rookie in 2022, recording three sacks. He added three more sacks in eight games in 2023 before his injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season and the entirety of 2024. Despite showing some promise, his development was hampered by the knee issue, limiting his overall impact on the team’s defensive line.
The 49ers will incur minimal dead money – approximately $350,000 – as a result of the waiver. Jackson, whose rookie contract has one year remaining, will be available to other teams on waivers until Monday at 3 PM CT. He is expected to garner significant interest despite the injury concerns, given his draft status and previous performance.
The 49ers’ decision to waive Jackson comes after they used their first-round draft pick (No. 11 overall) on defensive end Mykel Williams, indicating a shift in their defensive line strategy. While veteran Leonard Floyd was released, the team still has Yetur Gross-Matos to complement star Nick Bosa. The move signals the 49ers’ willingness to move on from Jackson, despite his potential, due to the lingering effects of his knee injury and the team’s need to build a strong defensive line for the upcoming season.
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