The San Francisco 49ers announced today that they have signed punter Thomas Morstead and linebacker Chazz Surratt to one-year contracts. To make room on the roster, the team waived linebacker DaShaun White and released punter Mitch Wishnowsky.
Wishnowsky appeared in nine games last season before being placed on injured reserve on November 16, 2024, due to a back injury.
The 49ers Communications staff provided the following rundown.
Morstead (6-4, 225) was originally selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round (164th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft. Throughout his 16-year career with the Saints (2009-20), New York Jets (2021 & 2023-24), Atlanta Falcons (2021) and Miami Dolphins (2022), he has appeared in 255 games and registered 960 punts for 44,944 yards (46.8 average), while pinning 352 of his punts inside the 20-yard line. He has appeared in 16 postseason contests and added 60 punts for 2,667 yards (44.5 average), with 20 of his punts landing inside the 20-yard line.
Morstead earned 2012 Associated Press Second-Team All-Pro honors and a selection to the 2013 Pro Bowl after finishing the season with 74 punts for 3,707 yards (50.1 average), including 20 downed inside the 20-yard line. His 50.1 average ranked second in the NFL and first in the NFC among punters in 2012.
A 39-year-old native of Pearland, TX, Morstead attended Southern Methodist University (2005-08) where he appeared in 36 games and registered 166 punts for 7,201 yards (43.4 average), while connecting on 37 of his 53 field goal attempts and 106 of his 108 extra point attempts.
Surratt (6-2, 233) was originally selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the third round (78th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft. Throughout his four-year career with the Vikings (2021) and New York Jets (2022-24), he has appeared in 41 games (five starts) and registered 19 tackles on defense to go along with 18 special teams tackles. In 2024, he appeared in a career-high 17 games (five starts) and recorded 18 tackles on defense and 10 special teams tackles with the Jets.
A 28-year-old native of Denver, NC, Surratt attended the University of North Carolina (2017-20) where he appeared in 33 games and registered 207 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, eight passed defensed, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
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White (6-0, 218) originally signed to the team's practice squad on September 3, 2024, where he appeared 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.
