SANTA CLARA – Marcus Rush could not have done much more to earn a spot on the 49ers’ 53-man roster this summer.
But the 49ers opted to enter the regular season with just three outside linebackers, excluding Aaron Lynch, who is ineligible for the first four games while serving an NFL suspension. Ahmad Brooks, Eli Harold and Tank Carradine made the cut. Rush did not.
Four of the 49ers’ final cuts – quarterback Jeff Driskel, wide receiver Bryce Treggs, defensive lineman Garrison Smith and, even, outside linebacker Corey Lemonier -- were claimed off waivers.
Surprisingly, Rush went unclaimed and was re-signed a day later to the 49ers’ practice squad.