49ers Officially Announce Garoppolo As Their Backup QB
The Jimmy Garoppolo era has started in San Francisco, but he won’t be named the starter right away. Instead, head coach Kyle Shanahan announced that the former Tom Brady backup will shift to bench duties behind rookie third round pick, C.J. Beathard, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Gate.
While the news may be a little bit of a downer for 49ers fans trying to get a look at their new signal caller, the move actually is a sign that Garoppolo is learning the playbook rather quickly.
The first-year head coach explained that the youngster’s ability to quickly grasp the offense influenced his decision to make him the primary backup. If Garoppolo had not picked up the offense, Nick Mullens would have been elevated from the practice squad.
“He’s worked real hard at it and I think he’s gotten more comfortable each day,” Shanaahn said. “He’s definitely not there yet, but if that situation presents itself we’ll have a plan to go with him so he (Garoppolo) can function.”
While this is encouraging news about the future prospects of the former Patriots backup getting playing time sooner rather than later, the Niners still won’t guarantee that Garoppolo will actually see the field this season.
Regardless, the team invested a high draft pick in the quarterback with the hope that the recently turned 26 year-old can become the face of their franchise for many years to come.
The former 2014 second round pick was one of the more intriguing options on the QB market over the past few seasons, despite him only appearing in limited action since being drafted over three years ago. Garoppolo has accumulated a 106.2 quarterback rating when on the field, throwing for 5 touchdowns and no interceptions, while also completing a more than solid 67 percent of his passes.
Latest On Botched A.J. McCarron Trade
It has already been widely reported that the Browns botched a trade for Bengals quarterback A.J. McCarron, but information is still coming out about exactly what made the deal fall through. In a piece from Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, she explains some of the background behind the negotiations. Kabot states that the main problem behind the failed trade, apart from being sent to the league past the deadline, was that the documents of each team failed to match. Cabot reports that the conditions of the trade were not explained equally on both sides, which meant that the deal would have fallen through even if the deal was made within the desired time frame.
Kabot’s article dives deeper into the failed trade, stating that Bengals owner Mike Brown was the “driving force” behind McCarron being shipped to a division rival. However, this wasn’t a sign of distaste for the backup signal caller, rather Kabot explains that Brown actually wanted to put McCarron in a situation where he could play. While Kabot clarifies that not all of the Bengals front office was on board with the move, she relays from a source inside the league that, “no one in the Bengals’ organization was standing in the way of getting it done.”
Kabot’s article also touches on the logistics of the trade, with it having been called dead and then alive once again within the hour of the trade deadline. She also explains that sources in the NFL believe the Bengals did the right think in submitting their own paperwork after they had received the Browns materials too late.
However, through all the chaos McCarron remains a Bengal and addressed the media through the team’s website about how he’s handling the situation.
“I’m not angry. I’m not upset. It feels good to be wanted,” McCarron said. “Today I’m going to thank Mr. Brown personally. I admire that he was going to give me an opportunity to go start and play somewhere. I really appreciate that of him. He’s been an unbelievable owner in my experience here.”
In addition to the fiasco that unfolded a few days ago, the backup quarterback is also dealing with a contract dispute regarding whether he should be a restricted free agent at season’s end. But, McCarron seems to have taken his current situation in stride.
“The biggest thing it does, I have been through a lot of mind games,” McCarron said. “I think it makes you mentally tougher. Stronger. Let’s you see all the crazy sides of this business in a short amount of time. Just in my year-long of experienced a lot guys who have been in the league 10 years haven’t experienced. Just by hearing your name and you are, you might be, but like I said, I am blessed to be in my situation and enjoying every minute of it.”
It remains to be seen what will unfold in the coming months for one of the league’s most intriguing number two signal callers. All we do know is that he’s been put in a unique situation and will remain in the same role he started the season, as the backup behind Andy Dalton.
Seahawks To Host DE Dwight Freeney
Hours after it was reported that the Seahawks may have interest in veteran defensive end Dwight Freeney, the team will now bring in the former All-pro for a team visit tomorrow, tweets Dan Graziano of ESPN.com.
While the Seahawks already have a talented defensive line made up of Michael Bennett, Sheldon Richardson and Frank Clark, the team’s interest in the 37 year-old probably stems from the injury that talented pass rusher Cliff Avril suffered at the beginning of the month. It’s highly unlikely that Freeney would play the majority of the snaps if he were signed, but he would provide another option to get after the quarterback on passing downs.
The defensive lineman is nowhere near the player he once was, although the veteran did post a combined 11 sacks in his previous two seasons as a member of the Cardinals and Falcons.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/23/17
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
Signed: QB Mike Bercovici
NFL Workout Updates: 10/23/17
Today’s workout updates:
Jacksonville Jaguars
LBs Sean Spence and Jonathan Freeny (Twitter link via Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union)
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/23/17
Today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Claimed off waivers: CB Tony McRae
- Waived: WR Kaelin Clay
Suspension Notes: Lynch, Sendejo
After being suspended for one game for contact with a referee, Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch made his case during his appeal of the punishment to league officials. The 32-year-old former All-star reportedly had Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters testify in his defense during the appeal, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Schefter further pointed out that Lynch made his entire argument and will likely hear whether or not the suspension has been lifted at some point tomorrow.
- Schefter also reported an interesting argument that Lynch made to the NFL today regarding his situation. The insider tweets that the Raiders back and his reps made the point that, “9 players, including Aaron Donald and Taylor Lewan last season, made contact with an official; none suspended.” While it appears that Lynch makes a pretty solid case, it still remains to be seen whether the league will ease his punishment and allow him to play next week vs. the Bills.
- In other suspension news, today we learned that Vikings safety Andrew Sendejo has been suspended for one game because of his hit on Ravens receiver Mike Wallace, NFL Vice President of Football Communications Michael Signora announced on Twitter. The Ravens starting wideout went onto miss the rest of the game with a concussion, despite pleading with coaches to let him continue. The Minnesota defensive back was penalized for a personal foul on the play and will now have to miss their upcoming game against the Browns. The team has backup safeties Anthony Harris and Jayron Kearse to help replace the veteran for the contest.
49ers Sign DE Datone Jones
It’s been a hectic season so far for defensive end Datone Jones as he’s now signed with his third team this season after agreeing to terms with the 49ers, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Nevertheless, Jones brings much needed depth to a position that has already seen the losses of Arik Armstead and Tank Carradine for the season.
It’s been quite a ride over the past few months for the defensive lineman. The former first round pick was cut by Vikings during the preseason and was just released by the Lions so that the team could bring in young quarterback Brad Kaaya.
At 27 years old, Jones has just not been able to find his footing in the NFL. Since entering the league in 2013, the most sacks he’s recorded in a single-season was the 3.5 that he collected during rookie campaign. The Packers decided to move on from Jones this past spring after the defensive end produced just 22 tackles and one sack in 15 games last year. San Francisco represents Jones’ latest chance to turn around his career, though he’ll have to battle to even get playing time with the likes of Aaron Lynch, Solomon Thomas and Elvis Dumervil ahead of him on the depth chart.
NFC West Notes: Cardinals QB’s, Seahawks DE’s, Foster
Despite initial reports that Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer will undergo surgery on his broken arm and be out for eight weeks, the veteran signal caller may think he can return sooner than that. The 37 year-old reportedly told head coach Bruce Arians that he “may be able to return in 4-6 weeks”, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. This news conflicts with the original prognosis, and Arians didn’t seem to doubt his QB’s feeling. “That’d be great…it depends on what the surgeon says. He is a fast healer. He’s had it broken before and basically said he was back in five.” Drew Stanton will still have to hold down the fort for the time being as the team looks to regain its footing after a 33-0 beatdown at the hands of the Rams.
- Even with the Palmer injury, it seems like the Cardinals won’t be bringing in free agent quarterback, Colin Kaepernick. Arians told Weinfuss when asked about signing the former 49ers quarterback, “We’ve never had more than two on our roster since I’ve been here. We liked Blaine Gabbert so much that we kept him this year. So, we’re really where we always are.” Although, the coach did express potential interest in “a practice squad arm”.
- With defensive end Cliff Avril out for at least seven games, the Seahawks may be looking to bring a free agent into the fold, tweets Bon Condotta of the Seattle Times. Condotta adds in another tweet that he hears the team could look into 37 year-old Dwight Freeney. The longtime Colts star remains on the open market after suiting up for the Falcons last season.
- Reuben Foster was rather noncommittal about when he would return from an injury he suffered this past Sunday. Now it appears that the rookie linebacker is “good to go” after tests on his ribs, reports Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. After being removed on two separate occasions in a loss to the Cowboys, it would seem that the 49ers linebacker has avoided his second long-term injury of his first professional season.
Saints’ Larry Warford Out For Several Weeks
One of the Saints bigger free agents signings from this past offseason will be out for an extended period of time. Guard Larry Warford is expected to miss several weeks with an abdominal injury, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
There was no exact timetable given for when New Orleans should expect their big ticket guard back, but it will be a rather large loss for a team that has won their last four games after dropping the first two. Warford was expected to be an anchor to the Saints offensive line when he signed a four year, $34 MM in the offseason, which gave him the seventh most guaranteed dollars ($17 MM) of any guard in the NFL. The former second round pick started every game at right guard this season, after starting a combined 57 contests in his four years with the Lions.
Backup lineman Senio Kelemente stood in for Warford when he exited and looks to be the primary fill-in as Warford works to get back on the field. The Saints will look to extend their winning streak when they take on the Bears this Sunday.