49ers Place Vance McDonald On IR

Three days after signing Vance McDonald to a five-year extension, the 49ers sent the tight end to injured reserve, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets.

A shoulder injury sustained in San Francisco’s 12th straight loss Sunday will end McDonald’s season, one where he claimed ownership of the 49ers’ tight end position for the foreseeable future. McDonald went down during the second quarter and did not return for the second half.

The 49ers claimed offensive lineman Josh Allen off waivers from the Buccaneers, Caplan reports (on Twitter) to take McDonald’s roster spot. McDonald will join key 49ers NaVorro Bowman, Eric Reid and Arik Armstead on IR.

The fourth-year player finishes the season with a career-high 24 receptions for 391 yards and four touchdowns, doing so in a San Francisco passing attack that’s been one of the worst in the league. Second-year player Blake Bell and former waiver claim Je’Ron Hamm comprise the 49ers’ tight end depth as they attempt to snap the longest losing streak in franchise history, one extended after an overtime loss to the Jets on Sunday.

McDonald signed a five-year, $35MM extension on Friday.

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