Today, the San Francisco 49ers revealed they have inked punter Thomas Morstead and linebacker Chazz Surratt to one-year deals. In order to clear space on the roster, the team released punter Mitch Wishnowsky and waived linebacker DaShaun White.
Wishnowsky played in nine matches last season before he was put on injured reserve on November 16, 2024, because of a back injury.
The Communications team of the 49ers offered this summary.
Morstead (6-4, 225) was first picked by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round (164th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft. During his 16-year tenure with the Saints (2009-20), New York Jets (2021 & 2023-24), Atlanta Falcons (2021), and Miami Dolphins (2022), he has participated in 255 games and completed 960 punts for 44,944 yards (46.8 average), successfully placing 352 of his punts inside the 20-yard line. He has played in 16 playoff games and contributed 60 punts for 2,667 yards (44.5 average), with 20 of his punts being downed inside the 20-yard line.
Morstead received 2012 Associated Press Second-Team All-Pro recognition and was chosen for the 2013 Pro Bowl after completing the season with 74 punts totaling 3,707 yards (a 50.1 average), with 20 placed inside the 20-yard line. His average of 50.1 placed him second in the NFL and first in the NFC for punters in 2012.
A 39-year-old from Pearland, TX, Morstead went to Southern Methodist University (2005-08), playing in 36 games, where he executed 166 punts for 7,201 yards (averaging 43.4 yards), and succeeded on 37 out of 53 field goal tries and 106 of 108 extra point kicks.
Surratt (6-2, 233) was initially picked by the Minnesota Vikings in the third round (78th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft. During his four-year tenure with the Vikings (2021) and Jets (2022-24), he has played in 41 games (five as a starter) and accumulated 19 defensive tackles along with 18 tackles on special teams. In 2024, he played in a career-best 17 games (five as a starter) and tallied 18 defensive tackles along with 10 special teams tackles for the Jets.
A 28-year-old originally from Denver, NC, Surratt went to the University of North Carolina (2017-20) where he played in 33 games and accumulated 207 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, eight passes defensed, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
White (6-0, 218) initially joined the team’s practice squad on September 3, 2024, and played in one game with San Francisco.
Wishnowsky (6-2, 220) was originally selected by the 49ers in the fourth round (110th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft. Throughout his six-year career (2019-24) with the 49ers, he appeared in 92 games and registered 310 punts for 14,142 yards and an average of 45.6 yards per punt, while pinning 138 of his punts inside the 20-yard line. He also kicked off 226 times for 116 touchbacks. Wishnowsky appeared in 12 postseason contests with San Francisco and added 41 punts for 1,828 yards and an average of 44.6 yards per punt, with 21 of his punts landing inside the 20-yard line. In 2024, Wishnowsky appeared in nine games and registered 22 punts for 994 yards and an average of 45.2 yards per punt, while pinning 11 of his punts inside the 20-yard line.