Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

With the 49ers depleted at linebacker, the team signed linebacker Ikaika Alama-Francis to a one-year deal.  To make room on the roster the team released tight end Gijon Robinson.  The 49ers are currently without Aldon Smith, Cam Johnson, Darius Fleming and Ahmad Brooks at outside linebacker, making the move to sign Alama-Francis more urgent.

Smith is out with a bruised right hip for at least a week, if not longer. Johnson has a knee injury which kept him out of the last three practices and the exhibition game.  Fleming is likely out for the season with a torn ACL and Brooks has missed the last two practices at training camp.

At 6-5, 290, Alama-Francis has recorded 24 tackles, one sack, and one fumble recovery in 35 games, with two starts,  in his five-year career with the Dolphins and Lions.  He has spent the last three seasons in Miami after playing in Detroit his first two seasons.  The former second-round draft picks fills a hole on the roster with so many injuries at outside linebacker but should not be viewed as an upgrade.