While the team has not declared that it definitely would sign a safety, let a lone Cota, the release of receiver Mike Jennings, fullback Matt Stanley and receiver Donnie O’Neal on Tuesday was a fairly good indicator that the team is looking to add a player to their roster.

The problem with signing a player like Cota is not that he is running out of time to learn the system. He wouldn’t be starting and thus this isn’t the biggest concern, and there is still ample time to get a good handle on the defense. Rather, the real question is what happens once the rest of the safeties get healthy.

The extent of Kevin Curtis’ injury won’t be known until later today when the doctors that operated on Curtis report their findings back to the team. At best, Curtis will likely miss six week, but a ten week recovery is not out of the question. Then of there is Al Blades who spent all of last year on the practice squad. He’s looked good in two strait off-season’s but his recent injury may once again make him a practice squad candidate. Then there is John Keith who is currently on the mend. The 49ers can’t have confidence that he’ll be healthy enough for the season. And so the conflict of interest exists.