There are a handful of provocative details that make veteran tight end Ross Dwelley's return to the San Francisco 49ers a bit unique.
The context, of course, was set by Dwelley's free-agent departure to the Atlanta Falcons back in 2024 after a gradual-but-noticeable decline in use ever since his career-best year in 2020 as All-Pro George Kittle's primary backup.
After not doing much in Atlanta, the Northern California native ultimately returned to the Niners on a one-year free-agent deal late in the offseason program.
Adding to the intrigue, San Francisco didn't select a tight end in the 2025 NFL Draft despite it being a notably deep class at the position. And while the previous free-agent pickup of blocking tight end Luke Farrell crowds the depth chart behind Kittle, there are reasons to suspect Dwelley's return to the Bay Area are more than just to add some offseason/preseason competition.
Ross Dwelley has strong chance to stay on 49ers' 53-man roster
He's far from a sure thing, but signs point to the 30-year-old Dwelley actually sticking around on the regular-season once roster cuts are complete in advance of Week 1.
For starters, it's fair to question the 49ers' tight end depth chart behind Kittle and Farrell. Aside from Dwelley, the Niners boast some notably unproven commodities: Mason Pline, Jake Tonges and Brayden Willis. Unless one of those three absolutely shine in camp and during the preseason, Dwelley's status as a regular-season rostered player remain good, even if it's as TE3.
Of course, Dwelley has zero in guaranteed money on his one-year, $1.198 million deal, meaning he could be released at any point with zero ramifications in dead money.
But, in light of the remaining options who have largely graced the practice squad and little else, Dwelley's status as an emergency go-to seems much more plausible.
Knowing the system helps, and the perennial backup tight end has that advantage despite being away from San Francisco for a full year.
If he displays that prowess between now and Week 1, it'll ultimately work in his favor.
