The San Francisco 49ers announced on Wednesday they have signed CB Dontae Johnson and WR Jordan Matthews to one-year deals. In order to make room on the roster, the team placed C/G Weston Richburg on the Injured Reserve List. The team also signed OL Kofi Amichia and CB Jermaine Kelly to the team's practice squad.
Matthews (6-3, 215) originally signed with the 49ers on March 15, 2019, was released by the team on August 31 and re-signed with the team on October 3. He appeared in one game with the 49ers prior to being waived on October 26. Matthews then signed with the Philadelphia Eagles on November 11 and appeared in two games prior to being waived on November 26.
A 27-year-old native of Madison, AL, Matthews attended Vanderbilt University. In four years with the Commodores (2010-13), he played in 51 games (37 starts) and finished his career as the SEC's all-time leader in receptions (262) and receiving yards (3,759) and totaled a school-record 24 receiving touchdowns.
Matthews will wear number 81.
Johnson (6-2, 200) re-signed with the 49ers on October 3, 2019. He appeared in five games and registered two tackles on defense and two tackles on special teams prior to being waived on November 11.
A 28-year-old native of Pennington, NJ, Johnson attended North Carolina State University. In 50 games (28 starts) over four seasons with the Wolfpack, he finished with 217 tackles, 10 passes defensed, 4.0 sacks, three interceptions and two forced fumbles. As a senior in 2013, he started all 12 games and registered 82 tackles, a team-high three interceptions, two passes defensed and one forced fumble.
Johnson will wear number 35.
Amichia (6-3, 305) was originally drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round (212th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft. After spending his entire rookie season on the Packers practice squad, he signed a Reserve/Future contract with the team on January 3, 2018. He was waived by Green Bay on September 1, 2018 and later signed to the Baltimore Ravens practice squad on October 24, 2018, where he spent the remainder of the season. Following his release from the Ravens on May 16, 2019, he signed with the Carolina Panthers on May 29 and was waived/injured by the team on August 30.
A 25-year-old native of Powder Springs, GA, Amichia attended the University of South Florida (2012-16), where he appeared in 30 games (28 starts) along the offensive line.
Kelly (6-1, 204) was originally drafted by the Houston Texans in the seventh round (222nd overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft. After spending his entire rookie season on the Injured Reserve List, he was placed on the Injured Reserve List on August 17, 2019 and Waived/Injured on August 24.
A 24-year-old native of Los Angeles, CA, Kelly attended San Jose State University (2015-17) after transferring from the University of Washington (2013-14). With the Spartans, he appeared in 25 games (17 starts) and registered 79 tackles, 18 passes defensed, two fumble recoveries and one interception (returned for a touchdown).
Richburg (6-4, 295) started each of the team's first 13 games of the season at center.
