Niners Nation
With Renardo Green likely out for a few weeks, the 49ers have added depth at cornerback
The San Francisco 49ers are signing cornerback Eli Apple to a one-year deal, per his agent Kevin Conner.
Apple was a former first-round pick from Ohio State, drafted in 2016. His most recent stint was with the Los Angeles Chargers in November 2024 for a three-game stretch. Before a brief appearance with the Chargers, Apple was with the Miami Dolphins in 2023, where he started four games and was targeted 63 times.
Before playing with the Dolphins, Apple was with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2021 to 2022, starting 15 games in each season. Apple certainly comes with experience, as he’s started at least double-digit games in five seasons since entering the NFL.
Apple, 29, is likely filling in for an injured Renardo Green, unless there was another injury that happened Sunday, which Kyle Shanahan didn’t address. Green is dealing with a hamstring injury that’ll sideline him until the 49ers play the Las Vegas Raiders in the preseason, according to Shanahan.
Signing Apple could be purely for depth purposes, unless the 49ers are confident that the veteran can contribute down the line. Or, it could be as simple as bringing in an experienced camp body who will compete and make your younger wideouts work.
