Ex-1st rounder Ponder happy to be 49ers’ No. 3
Shortly after he signed with the 49ers, Christian Ponder said he was committed to having fun in what might be his last chance in the NFL.
[...] Ponder had so much fun - leading five touchdown drives in nine full preseason series - that the discarded and largely forgotten quarterback beat long odds to make the 49ers’ 53-man roster Saturday.
Ponder, 28, was retained two days after he provided a spark in a 31-21 win over the Chargers in the preseason finale.
After playing a prominent role in a 22-0 fourth-quarter blitz, Ponder kept using his new favorite word.
The 49ers didn’t keep an undrafted rookie, which might make Ponder their best example of a feel-good roster survivor.
The potential franchise quarterback turned flameout was in the midst of an eight-month unemployment three weeks ago before the 49ers interrupted his quest to finish painting his house in Phoenix.
Ponder hopes this is the start of something that never materialized in his first four seasons with the Vikings.
The 49ers had four players claimed off waivers after they were released Saturday: WR Bryce Treggs (Eagles), rookie QB Jeff Driskel (Bengals), outside linebacker Corey Lemonier (Browns) and NT Garrison Smith (Seahawks).
The 49ers signed nine players to their 10-man practice squad, all of whom were released by the team Saturday: WR Dres Anderson; OL Alex Balducci; OL Fahn Cooper; TE Je’Ron Hamm; CB Prince Charles Iworah; OL Norman Price; LB Marcus Rush; LB Shayne Skov and RB Kelvin Taylor.
WR Chris Harper, who was released by the Patriots on Saturday, indicated on Twitter that he would sign with the 49ers’ practice squad.
Former 49ers WR Devon Cajuste, an undrafted rookie from Stanford, signed with the Packers’ practice squad.