49ers promote Brandin Cooks to active roster, sign Malik Turner to practice squad; release KhaDarel Hodge
The San Francisco 49ers moved veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks to the active roster and signed Malik Turner to the practice squad, the team announced Thursday. The 49ers released receiver KhaDarel Hodge to open a roster spot. The move provides the 49ers with additional veteran depth at wide receiver.
Cooks, a first-round pick in 2014, has compiled a 13-year NFL resume that includes 734 receptions for 9,811 yards and 60 receiving touchdowns, along with 58 carries for 341 yards and two rushing touchdowns, according to the team. He has appeared in 173 regular-season games (149 starts) and nine postseason contests (eight starts), totaling 40 postseason receptions for 572 yards and three carries for 12 yards. Cooks signed to the 49ers’ practice squad on Sept. 23 before the promotion.
Turner entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Over six NFL seasons, he has appeared in 47 games (three starts) and recorded 29 receptions for 414 yards and four touchdowns, and he has one postseason catch for six yards. He has had stints with the Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, Las Vegas Raiders, Houston Texans, the Indianapolis Professional Football Team and earlier stints with the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers released him on Aug. 30, 2026.
Hodge, listed at 5-foot-10 and 189 pounds, appeared in three games this season for San Francisco and had one catch for 18 yards. The move trims the receiving corps and gives the 49ers a veteran option on the active roster while adding depth to the practice squad. The transaction reflects a midseason roster adjustment as the team balances experience and availability.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Promoting Brandin Cooks gives San Francisco a proven veteran target with extensive regular-season and postseason experience that can help in depth and situational packages. Adding Malik Turner to the practice squad restores a player familiar with the organization and creates a call-up option if injuries or matchups require additional receiver depth. Releasing KhaDarel Hodge reflects his limited offensive role this season and is a common midseason adjustment as teams reshape their rosters around availability and experience.