Reserve/future deals allow NFL teams to retain the rights to players who were not on the active roster at the end of the season. These contracts officially go into effect at the start of the new league year on March 11, at which point the players will count against the team's salary cap.
The signing comes as tight end George Kittle's recovery timeline remains uncertain following the torn Achilles he suffered during the 49ers' playoff win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Rucci (6-5, 247) entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin, signing with the Miami Dolphins in 2024. He spent most of his rookie season and the early portion of the 2025 campaign on Miami's practice squad. Rucci made his regular-season debut in Week 8 against the Atlanta Falcons before being waived on November 29, 2025.
The Detroit Lions claimed Rucci off waivers on December 1, 2025, but later waived him. He eventually returned to Miami's practice squad before landing in San Francisco during the postseason.
The 49ers signed Rucci to their practice squad ahead of their playoff matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, following Kittle's injury. By converting his deal into a reserve/future contract, San Francisco will continue evaluating the 24-year-old tight end as it looks ahead to the 2026 season.
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers defense: PFF praises the underrated move that changes everything
The San Francisco 49ers' acquisition of veteran wide receiver Mike Evans dominated offseason headlines. However, Pro Football Focus (PFF) believes another move deserves far more attention: the trade for defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa. According to PFF's Bradley Locker,... -
49ers roster battles: The undrafted rookie sleepers to watch
Every year, one or two undrafted rookies force the San Francisco 49ers to rethink their roster. From Matt Breida and Emmanuel Moseley to Jordan Mason, Jeff Wilson, Jr., and Azeez Al-Shaair, the 49ers have seen rookies earn opportunities after entering the league without hearing... -
49ers' most glaring roster weakness: Why safety is a 2026 concern
49ers Webzone writer Bob Heyrman recently ranked the San Francisco 49ers' position groups heading into training camp, placing safety at the bottom of the list and identifying it as the team's biggest concern. "Perhaps they surprise us, and I will gladly revisit that assessment... -
49ers' biggest roster hole entering training camp identified by CBS Sports
The San Francisco 49ers made sweeping changes to their roster this offseason. While the additions of wide receivers Mike Evans and Christian Kirk generated most of the headlines, the team also focused on strengthening its defense. CBS Sports' Josh Edwards recently identified...