Glenn Dorsey

49ers Place Three Players On IR

As the 49ers seek their second win of the year, they’ll have to do it without the services of three of their players. Wide receiver Quinton Patton, linebacker Nick Bellore, and tight end Blake Bell will all be shut down for the year, as Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes. Quinton Patton (vertical)

Patton (foot) and Bellore (elbow) both went down early on in Sunday’s embarrassing 41-13 loss to the Falcons. Bell, meanwhile, suffered a shoulder injury after being tackled on a 45-yard pass play in the second quarter. In addition to those three, Maiocco notes that cornerback Jimmie Ward (shoulder), center Marcus Martin (ankle), and nose tackle Glenn Dorsey (undisclosed) also sustained injuries yesterday and their status for Weeks 16 and 17 are not yet known.

The 49ers could fill some of these roster spots from within, if they choose. Wide receiver DeAndre Smelter and linebacker Wynton McManis could be candidates for promotion from the practice squad, Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee tweets.

Reactions To NaVorro Bowman Extension

NaVorro Bowman is staying in San Francisco for the foreseeable future. The talented linebacker signed an extension earlier this week that will last through the 2022 season. The four-year extension is worth a reported $44MM (with $20MM guaranteed).

Bowman still had three years left on his contract, but the 28-year-old told Cam Inman of The Mercury News that he was intent on inking a long-term extension as soon as possible. Furthermore, the linebacker understood his standing in the organization, and he didn’t want his contract to trump that of former 49ers greats (including Patrick Willis).

“Out of respect for Pat, I took a little less and understood this was his team at the time,” Bowman said. “I’ve accomplished a lot since that time and made huge accolades.

“For me asking (now) for the deal, they understood why,” said Bowman, noting he never considered holding out of camp. “I knew it wasn’t a popular thing to do so with three years left. It’s basically about being fair. It shows how good of an organization they are to the players and fair for all the work I’ve put in.”
Let’s take a look at some more reactions to Bowman’s new contract…
  • The Bowman extension sent the right message to the linebacker’s teammates, writes Cam Inman. The players have learned that hard work can translate into a lucrative extension, and general manager Trent Baalke has already said that he plans on using the team’s remaining cap space to ink additional players to new contracts. Quarterback Blaine Gabbert, defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, wide receiver Quinton Patton and linebacker Michael Wilhoite are among the 49ers who are in the final year of their contracts, Inman notes
  • “I’ve had several guys walk up to me and say this is motivation for them,” Bowman told Inman. “It’s win-win situations for all us, to show guys it’s possible, but you have to put your work in and do your job.” 
  • “It just shows they truly believe in the guys they drafted to get the job done,” said defensive tackle Quinton Dial, who also received an extension. “It’s something we take a lot of pride in.”
  • “I want to thank Jed, the York family and Trent for giving me the opportunity to continue my career where my heart is,” Bowman said after inking the extension (via CSNBayArea.com). “I appreciate the hard work that Drew and Paraag put in to getting this deal done. My teammates and coaches have meant so much to me throughout my career and I thank them for helping me become the player I am today. The support I’ve received from my family and friends throughout my life, especially through the adversity of the past few years, has meant so much to me. I can’t wait for the season to start and play in front of the best fans in the NFL.”
  • Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com was surprised at the timing of the Bowman extension, although he notes that it isn’t the first time the team has extended a player with multiple years left on a contract. Furthermore, Fitzgerald believes the organization was simply taking advantage of their abundance of cap room.

49ers Claim Ray-Ray Armstrong; Dorsey To IR

WEDNESDAY, 3:22pm: The 49ers have officially placed Dorsey on season-ending IR, using the newly-opened roster spot to claim former Raiders linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong off waivers, the team announced today in a press release.

Armstrong, who illegally taunted a police dog before a game against the Steelers earlier this month, served as a backup linebacker and special-teamer for Oakland. The 24-year-old played under current 49ers linebackers coach Jason Tarver last year, when Tarver was the Raiders’ defensive coordinator.

MONDAY, 3:20pm: It’s been a disappointing year for the 49ers, and that trend continued today, as the team received another piece of bad injury news. According to Rand Getlin of the NFL Network (Twitter link), defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey suffered a torn ACL on Sunday and will miss the rest of the season.

Dorsey, 30, joined the Niners prior to the 2013 season, and had a very strong first year with the club, totaling 50 tackles and a pair of sacks as the starting nose tackle. After missing 2014 with a biceps injury, the former first-round pick hasn’t had quite the same impact for San Francisco this year, with 18 tackles and no sacks in 10 games (seven starts).

Still, Dorsey’s absence will be felt by a squad that has seen plenty of departures on its defensive line within the last calendar year. With Dorsey out of action for most of Sunday’s game, Thomas Rawls ran wild on the Niners, piling up more than 200 yards on the ground for the Seahawks.

With Dorsey headed to IR, players like Tony Jerod-Eddie, Tank Carradine, and rookie Arik Armstead are candidates to take on increased roles.

49ers Place NaVorro Bowman, Glenn Dorsey On IR

For much of the season, the 49ers had been hoping that two key members of their defense, linebacker NaVorro Bowman and defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, would return from injury and help the squad make a run to the postseason. Those hopes ended today, as the team announced that they have placed the duo on the season-ending injured reserve. To the take their spots on the roster, the team promoted cornerback Marcus Cromartie and guard Andrew Tiller from the practice squad.

Bowman was activated from the reserve/physically unable to perform list earlier this week after having suffered a knee injury during last year’s playoffs. However, there was some skepticism regarding the linebacker’s return this season. The two-time Pro Bowler had his best statistical season in 2013, finishing with 145 tackles, five sacks, six forced fumbles, and two interceptions.

Dorsey had been activated from the IR-DTR in mid-November, but he never made it on the field as he continued to recover from a biceps injury. The former fifth-overall pick started 13 games for the 49ers last season, and Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) ranked him 26th among 151 defensive tackles. He was ultimately rewarded for his efforts, as the team handed him a two-year extension in August.

Cromartie spent his entire 2013 rookie campaign in the Chargers organization, and he joined the 49ers in November. Tiller, a former sixth-round pick by the Saints, signed with San Francisco in October.

49ers Put Ian Williams On IR, Activate Dorsey

The 49ers have officially activated defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey to their 53-man roster, placing defensive tackle Ian Williams on injured reserve in a corresponding move, the team announced today (Twitter link). Head coach Jim Harbaugh had suggested earlier today that Dorsey would soon be activated.

Dorsey has been sidelined for the entire 2014 season to date, having been placed on IR with the designation to return prior to Week 1 due to a biceps injury. Williams played well in Dorsey’s absence, but suffered a fracture in his leg during Week 10’s game against the Saints. Quinton Dial took over as the team’s nose tackle yesterday against the Giants, though according to Pro Football Focus, he played just 14 of 70 total defensive snaps.

Assuming Dorsey is ready to see regular action on defense for the Niners, he’ll be the second key player to return to the unit in the last two weeks. Linebacker Aldon Smith was activated following his nine-game suspension last week, and made his season debut on Sunday in the Meadowlands.

NFC West Notes: Dorsey, Gore, Cardinals

While the Seahawks couldn’t pull out a comeback win in Kansas City yesterday, it was a successful Sunday for the rest of the NFC West, with the Cardinals, Rams, and 49ers all notching impressive victories. In his look at players who improved their free agent stocks over the weekend, Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap picks a player from each of those teams, identifying Cardinals cornerback Antonio Cromartie, Rams wideout Kenny Britt, and 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree as three players whose values got a bump after their respective performances on Sunday.

Here’s more from around the NFC West:

  • The 49ers intend to activate defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey from off the injured reserve list this week, head coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters today, including Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
  • 49ers running back Frank Gore, who is in the final year of his contract, would like to return to the 49ers next season, but if that interest isn’t mutual, he’s intent on continuing his NFL career elsewhere, as Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com outlines.
  • Addressing the contract extension the team gave defensive coordinator Todd Bowles last week, Cardinals general manager Steve Keim said today that he and his staff want to be “proactive and aggressive” with all their decisions, which means locking up quality assistants. Keim recognizes that Bowles could still explore head coaching jobs this offseason, but says “it will take a special opportunity for him to leave us.” Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com has the quotes and the details from the GM’s appearance on Arizona Sports 98.7.
  • Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch may be facing a $100K fine from the league, as Peter King explains in his latest MMQB column.

PUP, IR-DTR Players Soon Eligible To Practice

Week 6 of the NFL season will come to an end after Monday night’s game between the 49ers and Rams, and when teams begin preparing for Week 7, many of those clubs may be welcoming some players back to practice. Six weeks into the NFL season, players who were placed on the physically unable to perform list or the injured reserve list with the designation to return prior to Week 1’s games will be eligible to return to practice.

Of course, just because those players are able to return to the practice field doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be healthy enough to do so. Players on the PUP list have a five-week window to begin practicing. Once they return to practice, they have three weeks to be added to their respective teams’ active rosters. In other words, a player on the PUP list could theoretically return for his team’s Week 7 game, or could return as late as for his team’s Week 15 contest. If the player doesn’t return to practice or game action in time, he’ll revert to season-ending injured reserve.

Here are the players currently on the physically unable to perform list who can begin practicing as soon as next week:

Players who began the season on the PUP list didn’t participate in any preseason practices, but that’s not the case for players on the injured reserve list with the designation to return. Teams can use this spot on one player per season, placing him on the injured reserve list without necessarily ruling him out for the season. As we explained in an earlier post, players given this designation can begin practicing after six weeks and can return after eight weeks.

That means that players who were placed on IR-DTR prior to Week 1 can begin practicing next week. A player who was placed on IR-DTR after – for instance – Week 2 will have to wait another two weeks to return to practice.

Here’s the list of players currently on IR-DTR who can begin practicing as soon as next week:

49ers To Re-Sign Kassim Osgood

Wide receiver and special teams ace Kassim Osgood will rejoin the 49ers today, according to head coach Jim Harbaugh. Appearing on KNBR in San Francisco this morning, Harbaugh indicated that Osgood would take the active roster spot by Glenn Dorsey, who will be placed on the injured reserve list with the designation to return (Twitter link via Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee).

Osgood, 34, was released by San Francisco during the team’s cutdown to 53 players on the weekend. In his first year with the Niners, Osgood appeared in only 45 offensive snaps and snagged just one reception during the regular season. However, he was a key contributor in kick and punt coverage, compiling an impressive 13 special teams tackles.

Osgood’s previous one-year, minimum-salary contract with the team featured a $20K first-game roster bonus, so it’ll be interesting to see if the team includes that same provision in his new deal.

49ers Sign Glenn Dorsey To Two-Year Extension

WEDNESDAY, 8:12am: A source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that Dorsey’s extension features $6.075MM in new money, with $2.575MM in guarantees and $1.75MM in incentives. In total, the lineman can earn up to $10.957MM through 2016 if he maxes out the deal.

TUESDAY, 6:04pm: The 49ers have signed defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey to a two-year extension through 2016, the team announced in a press release. The 29-year-old Dorsey tore his right bicep earlier this month, and could potentially miss the entire season, so it’s curious that the team would choose to lock him up now.Glenn Dorsey

“Glenn is a true pro who has quickly become a valued contributor to our organization both on and off the field,” said San Francisco general manager Trent Baalke. “He is a quick study and a very good football player that has earned this extension, and we look forward to his future contributions.”

Dorsey was set to enter the second year of a two-year, $6MM deal — $2.3MM of which he is to earn this season in base salary. Terms of his new deal aren’t yet known, but it will be interesting to see if the Niners were able to take advantage of the fact that Dorsey is probably going be injured for the duration of his contact year. As Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports 1 notes (via Twitter), this could be something of a buy-low opportunity for San Francisco — Dorsey was probably amendable to receiving any sort of guaranteed money while rehabbing from his injury, even if it was for pennies on the dollar.

Prior to joining the Niners, Dorsey spent five seasons with the Chiefs after being selected fifth overall in the 2008 draft. After playing mostly defensive end in Kansas City’s 3-4 scheme, he was expected to do the same in San Francisco, albeit in a reserve role. However, after starting nose tackle Ian Williams went down with an injury, Dorsey became the starter on the interior. He’s not an ideal fit for NT at 6’1″, 297 pounds, but he was competent in the role — Pro Football Focus (subscription required) assigned him a +4.5 grade for 2013, noting that he especially excelled against the run. In his career, the former LSU Tiger has started 78 games, accruing 189 tackles and six sacks.

Dorsey probably shouldn’t be counted on for much production in 2013. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that Dorsey will require one more MRI on his healing bicep before the 49ers make a decision on his roster status. In that vein, Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee adds (on Twitter) that Dorsey is a strong candidate to be labeled San Francisco’s injured reserve/designated to return player.

This 49ers, however, agreed to this new pact with the long-term future of their defensive line in mind. Ends Justin Smith and Ray McDonald are signed through 2015 and 2016, respectively, but both could become cap casualties during next offseason. Williams is once again injured, and the rest of the position group includes youtful players like Tank Carradine, Quinton Dial, and Demarcus Dobbs. In extending Dorsey, San Francisco has added some stability to a defensive line that could see quite a bit of turnover during the next 12 months.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

NFC West Links: 49ers, Cooper, Bailey

The 49ers‘ running back depth took a hit this week when Kendall Hunter and LaMichael James both suffered injuries. As the team tries to keep starter Frank Gore fresh and healthy for the regular season, some other players have had a chance to shine. Rookie Carlos Hyde has particularly taken advantage of the opportunity and has drawn praise from the entire coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman remarked on the second-round pick’s ability to pick up instruction (via Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee)…

I guess, you know, somebody that’s seven-years-old playing the piano and you kind of show them, they hear it, and then they start playing the piano,” Roman said. “It’s one of those things that if you can explain it to him, once it clicks with him – and that’s happened repeatedly on a lot of different things – he just makes that adjustment, and we keep moving.”

Coach Jim Harbaugh even went as far as to compare the rookie to the veteran he’s hoping to back up.

Carlos gets football, understands football; it’s natural for him to understand the game, similar to Frank Gore,” Harbaugh said. “And we’re seeing those things, and both are very good signs and bode well for us.”

Let’s check out some more notes from the NFC West…
  • 49ers defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey tore his bicep earlier today, and ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson tweets that Isaac Sopoaga could be an option to replace him. The 32-year-old split 2013 between the Eagles and the Patriots.
  • Cardinals guard Jonathan Cooper missed all of 2013 recovering from a broken fibula. The team was counting on their former first-rounder to contribute this season, but coach Bruce Arians doesn’t sound overly optimistic. I’m a little disappointed with where Coop is at right now,” Arians told Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com“I’d hope he come a little faster.” To perhaps make a bit of a statement, the team played Earl Watford with the first team during practice (via a tweet from ESPN.com’s Josh Weinfuss).
  • Even with his impending four-game suspension, Rams receiver Stedman Bailey has been impressive at camp, writes Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com. This is leaving many, including coach Jeff Fisher, confident that the second-year player will make a big impact once he returns. He’s there,” Fisher said. “He knows how to get open, and knows how to make the plays. Yes, we’ll miss him, but he’s going to push right through camp and we’ll get through his ordeal and we’ll get him right back in the lineup.”