MINNEAPOLIS -- The 49ers on Saturday placed outside linebacker Dekoda Watson on injured reserve, making him ineligible for the first eight weeks of the season.
Watson, who enters his ninth NFL season, sustained a hamstring injury during practice on Friday. Players who go on IR after the cut to 53 players are eligible to return to the active roster after two months. Rookie safety Marcell Harris (hamstring) is also eligible to return to the team later in the sesaon.
The 49ers did not fill his roster spot created by Watson's injury, so the team will go into Sunday's season opener against the Minnesota Vikings with 52 players on their roster. The team must deactivate six players to reach the game-day limit of 46 players in uniform.
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Watson is a core special teams player and was expected to see action as an outside pass rusher in nickel situations. Watson has four career sacks in 103 games during his career with Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, Dallas, New England, Denver and the 49ers.
Mark Nzeocha, a fourth-year player, could make his first career start on Sunday at outside linebacker for the 49ers.
This Sunday, be sure to watch 49ers Pregame Live at 9 a.m. and 49ers Postgame Live immediately after the game on NBC Sports Bay Area and live streaming on the NBC Sports app. Greg Papa, Donte Whitner, Jeff Garcia, Matt Maiocco and Laura Britt will have everything you need to know from the 49ers’ season opener.