SANTA CLARA -- Ross Dwelley was at the Red Lion Hotel Paper Valley in Appleton, Wisconsin, on Oct. 15 last year when he got the call that changed everything.
Lynch officially informed Dwelley, an undrafted rookie tight end from the University of San Diego, he was being promoted from the 49ers' practice squad and he would be in uniform later that evening to play against the Green Bay Packers.
Dwelley did not see any snaps on offense that first game. He played entirely on special teams. But Dwelley's status on the 49ers' 53-man roster has not been in serious doubt since that day.