SANTA CLARA — Frank Darby, an Arizona State teammate of Brandon Aiyuk and Ricky Pearsall, is reuniting with them on the 49ers’ wide receiver corps.
Darby spent the past three years with the Atlanta Falcons. He was drafted out of Arizona State in the 2021 sixth round, and he served on the Falcons’ practice squad for much of the past two seasons.
Cornerback Kemon Hall was waived in a corresponding roster move. Darby’s one-year deal was first reported by ESPN.
Aiyuk has yet to practice in training camp while embroiled in a contract stalemate, though he reported Tuesday to avoid fines. Pearsall, a first-round draft pick, is expected to come off the Non-Football Injury list next week as he returns from a hamstring strain.
Aiyuk, Pearsall and Darby overlapped at Arizona State in 2019; the 49ers drafted Aiyuk in the 2020 first round, and Pearsall transferred to Florida to play the previous two years.
Darby totaled just two receptions for 29 yards with the Falcons over the past three seasons, while most of his playing time came on special teams.
Standing out among the 49ers’ receiving corps through three practices at camp have been Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings and Trent Taylor. Undrafted rookie Terique Owens, son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Owens, made his first catch in team drills Friday.
Rookie Jacob Cowing, a fourth-round pick out of Arizona, has been hindered by an injury since spring workouts. Cowing, Pearsall and Samuel trained together earlier this month in Arizona before reporting to camp.
Other receivers on the roster: Chris Conley, Ronnie Bell, Danny Gray, Tay Martin and Malik Turner.
Hall joined the 49ers last November as a member of their practice squad. He previously played with the New Orleans Saints, the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Atlanta Falcons.
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