The Aporia · 49ers stick it to Rams by poaching former return specialist

49ers stick it to Rams by poaching former return specialist

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Murray, T. L. (2026, October 7). 49ers stick it to Rams by poaching former return specialist. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2026/10/07/sports/49ers-poach-xavier-smith-by-placing-him-on-their-practice-squad/

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

Quick Summary

Xavier Smith, a 29-year-old former return specialist for the Los Angeles Rams who was recently cut by the team, has signed with the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad. The move comes as the 49ers face a shortage at wide receiver following Dante Pettis's placement on injured reserve. In his last season with the Rams, Smith had 13 kickoff return attempts for 301 yards and 18 receptions for 303 yards. This signing follows similar moves by other former Rams receivers who have joined the 49ers recently.

Written by AI on 2026-10-07, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

The San Francisco 49ers signed former Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Xavier Smith to their practice squad less than a week after the Rams cut him. Smith, 29, joined the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and primarily served as a return specialist, with notable statistics from last season including 13 kickoff returns for 301 yards and 18 receptions for 303 yards. The 49ers are currently thin at the wide receiver position, having recently placed Dante Pettis on injured reserve. This move follows another similar transaction as Demarcus Robinson also moved from the Rams to the 49ers last season.

Written for “49ers Sign Rams Former Player” on 2026-10-30, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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0 of 9 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

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66/100

New York Post's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

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Who wrote this

Thomas L. Murray

152 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

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All 152 articles by Thomas L. Murray →

Narrative

Claims (9 extracted, 0 hedged)

It’s been less than a week since the Los Angeles Rams cut wide receiver Xavier Smith, and he’s already found a new home. asserted

he → cut → home

On Wednesday, Smith signed to the practice squad of their NFC West divisional rival, the San Francisco 49ers. asserted

Smith → sign → rival

Smith, 29, has been on the Rams since 2023, after he made the team’s roster as an undrafted free agent from Florida A&M. He’s primarily served as a return specialist, but due to early struggles this season, the team decided to bench him in favor of Alex Bachman. asserted

team → make → Bachman

Last season, he had 13 kickoff return attempts and logged 301 yards, with a long of 32, while also hauling in 18 receptions for 303 yards. asserted

he → have → yards

The 49ers’ poaching of the former Rams returner comes while the team is incredibly thin at the wide receiver position, as they placed last week’s practice squad acquisition, Dante Pettis, on the injured reserve on Wednesday. asserted

they → come → Wednesday

Smith is the latest Rams receiver to cross over and join the team’s divisional rival, as Demarcus Robinson is in the middle of his second season with the Niners. asserted

Robinson → cross → Niners

A week after Robinson caught three receptions for 50 yards against the Rams in their season opener in Melbourne, Australia, Robinson exited the 49ers’ Week 2 matchup against the Miami Dolphins and was shortly placed on the injured reserve due to a high ankle sprain. asserted

Robinson → catch → sprain

Brandin Cooks, who went to the Super Bowl with the Rams in 2018, signed to the 49ers’ practice squad last week and was elevated before their Week 4 victory against the Denver Broncos. asserted

who → go → Broncos

For Smith, his arrival to the 49ers comes during a revenge week as they’re set to play the Seahawks for the first time since they endured a 41-6 loss in the divisional round of the playoffs last season. asserted

they → come → playoffs

49ers stick it to Rams by poaching former return specialist

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Claims (9 extracted, 0 hedged)