49ers LS Kyle Nelson Suspended 10 Games
Kyle Nelson‘s season is over. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that the 49ers long snapper has been suspended 10 games. The team announced that Nelson was suspended for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. The 10-game van would seemingly indicate that this is the veteran’s second violation.
“I have been made aware by the NFL that I tested positive for a banned substance, and as a result will be suspended,” Nelson said in a statement. “I have been taking the same supplements for my entire time with the 49ers, while undergoing often simultaneous testing by the NFL with no issues. I do not deviate from my nutrition routine, and I would never knowingly take a banned substance. I am currently having the supplements tested, and I hope to uncover the cause of the positive test. When the product is identified I fully intend to seek legal action against the manufacturer to protect against this happening to other players in the future.”
The 32-year-old has spent the past four-plus seasons in San Francisco, appearing in every single game for the organization. The suspension could actually spell the end of the veteran’s tenure with the 49ers, as Nelson is set to become a free agent this offseason.
Since he’ll be forced to sit out the first six games of the 2019 campaign, it’s unlikely the 49ers will carry two players at the position for more than a month. In fact, it’s unlikely Nelson will be able to snag a new gig with any team before the start of the regular season. However, the long snapper will be eligible to participate in all offseason and preseason practices/games.
Considering Nelson’s reliability, it was a bit odd to see the 49ers audition a number of long snappers last week. That grouping was headlined by veteran Jon Condo, and it also included Tanner Carew, Lucas Gravelle, Colin Holba, and Taybor Pepper (via Matt Maiocco NBC Sports Bay Area on Twitter). The workouts now make a lot more sense, as the team will need to add a long snapper for the final stretch of the season.
NFL Workout Updates: 11/27/18
Here’s the latest from the workout circuit, all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer, unless otherwise specified.
Arizona Cardinals
Baltimore Ravens
- S Bennett Jackson (link)
Buffalo Bills
- LB James Burgess, P Matt Darr, LB Obum Gwacham, DE Damontre Moore, P Brad Nortman, P Jake Schum (link)
Carolina Panthers
- CB Dexter McDougle (Twitter link via Adam Caplan of Sirius XM Radio)
Green Bay Packers
- T Gerhard de Beer, DE Geneo Grissom, FB Malcolm Johnson, LB Jacob Pugh (link)
Houston Texans
- WR Deontez Alexander, CB Horace Richardson, WR Devin Smith (link)
Indianapolis Colts
- RB Mack Brown, RB Martez Carter, RB Jarvion Franklin, RB Gerald Holmes, TE Khari Lee, RB Akrum Wadley (link)
Oakland Raiders
- DE Darius Jackson, DE Ja’Von Rolland-Jones (link)
San Francisco 49ers
- LB Tyrell Adams, LB Thurston Armbrister, LS Tanner Carew, LS Jon Condo, LS Lucas Gravelle, LS Colin Holba, WR Max McCaffrey, LS Taybor Pepper, WR Jordan Smallwood, WR Jordan Veasy, LB Michael Wilhoite (link)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/11/18
Today’s practice squad updates:
Buffalo Bills
- Released: OL Gerhard de Beer
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR DeAndrew White
- Released: S Dezmen Southward
Denver Broncos
- Signed: DL Niles Scott
- Released: DT Kyle Peko, DT DeShawn Williams
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: CB Will Redmond
- Released: S Marwin Evans
Houston Texans
- Signed: CB Breon Borders, WR Malachi Dupre
- Released: DT Darius Kilgo
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: G Sean Harlow, CB Tarvarus McFadden
- Released: OL Jamil Douglas
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LS Lucas Gravelle
- Released: DL Cameron Mavlveaux
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: WR Johnny Holton
- Released: DB Terrell Sinkfield
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: S Tre Sullivan
- Released: CB De’Vante Bausby
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Simeon Thomas, WR Mailk Turner
- Released: DT Frank Herron
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: CB Jeff Richards
- Released: LB Azeem Victor
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: OL David Quessenberry
Washington Redskins
- Signed: WR Teo Redding
Dolphins Cut Roster To 53
The Miami Dolphins are the latest team to cut their roster all the way down to the required 53 players. Here are their latest moves:
Waived:
- CB Johnathon Alston
- G Isaac Asiata
- CB Taveze Calhoun
- WR Leonte Carroo
- LB Cayson Collins
- CB Jalen Davis
- TE Thomas Duarte
- S Trae Elston
- WR Isaiah Ford
- LB Frank Ginda
- LS Lucas Gravelle
- C Connor Hilland
- RB Buddy Howell
- K Greg Joseph
- OT Roubbens Joseph
- RB Jeremy Langford
- WR Malcolm Lewis
- CB Tony Lippett
- DE Cameron Malveaux
- DE Claudy Mathieu
- C Mike Matthews
- WR Drew Morgan
- DT Anthony Moten
- WR Francis Owusu
- DT Jamiyus Pittman
- RB Brandon Radcliff
- OT Eric Smith
- OT David Steinmetz
- DE Jonathan Woodard
Waived/Injured
- QB Bryce Petty
- DE Quincy Redmon
- WR Rashawn Scott
Terminated vested veteran
- TE Gavin Escobar
- LB Terence Garvin
- DL Kendall Langford
Overall, not too many surprises. It looks like the Dolphins will be keeping three quarterbacks, with both Brock Osweiler and David Fales making the team.
Dolphins Add 13 UDFAs
With several teams yet to hold their rookie minicamps, more undrafted free agent classes are being finalized. Here is the latest one, coming out of Miami:
- Johnathan Alston, CB (North Carolina State)
- Cayson Collins, LB (North Carolina)
- Jalen Davis, CB (Utah State)
- Lucas Gravelle, LS (TCU)
- Connor Hilland, C (William & Mary)
- Buddy Howell, RB (Florida Atlantic)
- Greg Joseph, K (Florida Atlantic)
- Claudy Mathieu, DE (Notre Dame, Ohio)
- Mike McCray, LB (Michigan)
- Anthony Moten, DT (Miami)
- Jamiyus Pittman, DT (Central Florida)
- Quincy Redmon, DE (Fairmont State)
- David Steinmetz, T (Purdue)
Davis earned All-American acclaim for his 2017 season — five interceptions and 20 passes defensed — and set the Aggies’ school record with 48 passes defensed. In addition to the two Florida Atlantic-honed talents, the Dolphins brought in two players from Division II’s Mountain East Conference in Mathieu and Redmon.
Joseph and Gravelle figure to be competition for seventh-round rookie kicker Jason Sanders and longtime long snapper John Denney, respectively. Denney has been Miami’s specialty snapper for 13 seasons. Joseph has more experience kicking in higher-stakes games than Sanders, with the UDFA being a four-year kicker for the Owls. Sanders was New Mexico’s kicker for two seasons, so this could be a fairly even competition at its outset. Joseph finished as Florida Atlantic’s all-time scoring leader.