Chris Conley

49ers Medically Clear WR Brandon Aiyuk

As the 49ers continue their standoff with Brandon Aiyuk, the organization made a significant decision today. According to ESPN’s Nick Wagoner, the team medically cleared their wide receiver, paving the way for Aiyuk to start facing fines.

Aiyuk has been engaged in a hold-in throughout the summer, although the team seemed to accommodate his stance. The player attended training camp on time and was present for team meetings, and since the organization attributed his on-field absences to back and neck soreness. the player was able to avoid daily fines of $40K. Following today’s medical clearance, the 49ers now have a clear path to start fining Aiyuk for “unexcused missed activities.” The organization also has the option to suspend the player for “conduct detrimental to the team,” per Wagoner.

While neither coach Kyle Shanahan nor general manager John Lynch would reveal if they’d slap Aiyuk with those punishments, they did express optimism that the medically clearance would coax the player into practicing. Predictably, that didn’t end up happening on Wednesday, as Wagoner notes that Aiyuk was absent from the portion of practice that was open to reporters.

Shanahan later admitted that he was preparing as if the wideout wouldn’t be available for Week 1. When asked about the regular-season status of Aiyuk and offensive tackle Trent Williams (who also continues to push for a new deal), the head coach said he’s planning for Week 1 with the players he currently has on the practice field.

“I’m optimistic that things will work out with Trent,” Shanahan said (via Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com). “I’m not sitting here knowing what day it will be. I mean, we’re getting close to playing a game. So, like, my mind is completely on preparing for a game without those guys. But I feel when two sides want to get a deal done, usually it happens.”

Shanahan also told reporters that Aiyuk’s uncertainty played a role in the team’s decision to carry seven wideouts on their initial 53-man roster (per Wagoner). With Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, first-round rookie Ricky Pearsall, and fourth-round rookie Jacob Cowing seemingly safe regardless of Aiyuk’s status, the likes of Chris Conley and Ronnie Bell were the main beneficiaries of this continued saga.

49ers Re-Sign WR Chris Conley, Add CB Chase Lucas

The 49ers have made a pair of moves which will primarily affect their special teams. Wide receiver Chris Conley has been re-signed on a one-year deal, per a team announcement. In addition, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle notes cornerback Chase Lucas has been signed, also on a one-year accord.

Conley joined San Francisco last offseason to offer the team a complementary option in the passing game along with the potential for special teams contributions. The 31-year-old had not been a mainstay with respect to third phase duties in many of his previous stops. Drawing only eight combined targets between regular and postseason play in 2023, however, that was the bulk of Conley’s workload during the year.

The former third-rounder saw a 36% snap share on special teams with the 49ers, the highest mark of his career. His contributions in that regard included a pair tackles as a gunner during the Super Bowl, and Conley can be expected to reprise that role in 2024. He could also provide a vertical threat in the passing game behind the established starting WR trio of Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings.

Lucas entered the league as a Lions draftee in 2022. He did not log a snap on defense in any of his 18 games with Detroit, but last season in particular he became a key special teamer. The 27-year-old saw a 72% snap share with respect to third phase playing time, but that was not sufficient to receive an ERFA tender. Free to sign with a new team, Lucas has elected to head to the Bay Area for 2024.

The Lions handed linebacker (and new NFLPA president) Jalen Reeves-Maybin a two-year extension which includes record-breaking compensation for a special teams player. With considerable resources used on retaining him, it comes as little surprise Detroit was willing to let Lucas depart. The latter could provide depth in the 49ers’ secondary, but failing that he will be in line to continue as a core contributor on special teams in San Francisco.

49ers Place WR/KR Ray-Ray McCloud On IR

The 49ers were forced to make a roster move today, announcing that they have placed wide receiver and return man Ray-Ray McCloud on injured reserve. The 27-year-old will be forced to miss at least the next four weeks as he deals with a rib injury.

McCloud is in his second year with the 49ers after time with the Bills, Panthers, and Steelers before this. His biggest year came in 2021 with Pittsburgh when he led the league in punt return yardage with 367 yards and finished with career-highs in kick return yards (776) and receiving yards (277). Despite being on the field for both special teams return units and offense, McCloud has only scored two career touchdowns. Both came last year for the 49ers with one coming through the air and one on the ground. This year, he’s continued his role as the team’s primary return man while also still playing a small role in the offense.

To fill his roster spot, San Francisco has signed practice squad receiver Chris Conley to the active roster. At 31 years old, the veteran wideout has failed to see extended action in the past two years. Conley has been elevated for gameday three times this year, the limit for a single practice squad contract, and though he found almost 20 snaps on offense, he has yet to register a target in 2023. Still, he has the vast experience as a supporting receiver to step up, should the team ask him to.

Additionally, the 49ers announced that safety Erik Harris and running back Jeremy McNichols will be called up as standard gameday elevations from the practice squad for tomorrow’s contest. Harris was called up last week in an effort to add depth at the position with injured starter Talanoa Hufanga out. McNichols, on the other hand, has not appeared in a game since his time with the Titans in 2021.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/2/23

Today’s gameday callups and minor moves heading into Sunday:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

The Chiefs have ruled out running back Jerick McKinnon for tomorrow’s game against the Packers, necessitating some extra depth at the position. The team will turn to Prince, an undrafted free agent who has spent the entire season on Kansas City’s practice squad. Prince had a breakout season at Tulsa in 2022, finishing with 813 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns.

Winfrey, a 2022 fourth-round pick, was cut by the Browns last July after being investigated for pulling a gun on a woman. He joined the Jets practice squad in early November and will finally earn his first promotion of the season. Winfrey got into 13 games for Cleveland last year, collecting 22 tackles and 0.5 sacks.

At age 36, Irvin will be making his debut for a sixth NFL team. The veteran pass rusher signed with Detroit midway through November and will finally have a chance to extend his streak of regular season appearances to 12 straight years. The only absence on the Lions’ front-seven will be linebacker Alex Anzalone, so Detroit may be looking to stand Irvin up to help the team’s depth at linebacker.

 

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/23/23

Here are Monday’s minor moves:

Cleveland Browns

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

  • Signed off Panthers’ practice squad: RB Jashaun Corbin

San Francisco 49ers

This marks a New York return for Corbin, who went to training camp with the Giants. A UDFA out of Florida State, Corbin signed a reserve/futures contract with the Giants in January but did not make their 53-man roster. The Panthers had kept Corbin on their practice squad since early September. Rather than promote Corbin to their 53-man roster to block this New York return, Carolina will let him join the Giants’ 53. Corbin joins Saquon Barkley, Gary Brightwell and fifth-round rookie Eric Gray as running backs on Big Blue’s 53-man roster. Both Brightwell (hamstring) and Gray (calf) suffered injuries in Week 7, creating a need at the position.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/21/23

Here are Thursday’s minor moves:

Chicago Bears

Houston Texans

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers

The Bears released Peterman on Wednesday, but Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times notes the team was planning to use the roster spot to poach a player off a another team’s practice squad. Chicago’s effort did not produce a signing, however, leaving Peterman’s spot vacant. When a team makes an effort to sign a player off another club’s P-squad, the team can promote the player to its 53-man roster to keep him from being poached. The seventh-year QB, who is in his second season with the Bears, again give the team three active-roster QBs — along with Justin Fields and rookie Tyson Bagent.

Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC West

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These 49ersCardinalsRams and Seahawks moves are noted below.

Arizona Cardinals

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Los Angeles Rams

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

San Francisco 49ers

Placed on IR:

Signed: 

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Seattle Seahawks

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad: 

49ers Place Nick Bosa On Reserve/Did Not Report List, Pare Roster To 53

The 49ers joined the Chiefs in placing their best defensive player on the reserve/did not report list due to a holdout and joined the other 30 teams in finalizing their 53-man roster. Some changes are expected, with veterans pledged to stay. But here is how the 49ers reached 53:

Released:

Waived:

Placed on reserve/did not report list:

Placed on IR:

Placed on reserve/PUP list:

The 49ers are planning to re-sign Hyder and Bryant once they make other roster moves, Matt Barrows of The Athletic notes (subscription required). Both are vested veterans who are not subject to waivers. With Samson Ebukam and Charles Omenihu gone, Hyder figures to be a key piece as a rotational defensive end. He is with the 49ers for the third time in four seasons. After an 8.5-sack slate in 2020, Hyder signed with the Seahawks. But Seattle released him in 2021, leading the veteran back to the Bay Area.

San Francisco’s 53-man roster will include Bosa soon, and this holdout does not appear as contentious as the Chris Jones-Chiefs standoff. John Lynch has indicated the 49ers will waive Bosa’s fines for missing training camp — an option the 49ers have due to Bosa being tied to a rookie contract. While the 49ers changed defensive coordinators, bringing in Steve Wilks to replace DeMeco Ryans, D-line coach Kris Kocurek remains in place. Bosa should be able to hit the ground running once he returns, though the 49ers are running short on time here.

Gonzalez suffered a calf injury Kyle Shanahan said would keep him out a few weeks. With the veteran landing on IR, an injury settlement is likely. The 49ers used a third-round pick on Michigan kicker Jake Moody, but Barrows notes the strained quadriceps injury he suffered may keep him out of Week 1. On that note, the 49ers worked out Tristan Vizcaino and Taylor Russolino, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area notes. Robbie Gould, the 49ers’ kicker for the past six seasons, remains unsigned.

49ers To Sign WR Chris Conley

Chris Conley will have an opportunity to earn a roster spot for a fifth team soon. After visiting San Francisco late last week, the veteran wide receiver agreed to terms with the 49ers, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

This is a one-year agreement. It will mark Conley’s first trip out of the AFC. While still best known for his time with the Chiefs, the 2015 third-round pick has since nearly completed the AFC South cycle. Over the past four seasons, Conley played for the Jaguars, Texans and Titans. Both Conley and Laquon Treadwell worked out for the 49ers last week.

An auxiliary pass catcher in the Chiefs’ Alex Smith– and Patrick Mahomes-led offenses, Conley put together his best season with the Jags in 2019. Given a two-year, $4.6MM deal that offseason, the 6-foot-3 wideout showed viability without Andy Reid‘s assistance by catching 47 catches for 775 yards and five touchdowns for the Gardner Minshew-piloted Jacksonville offense. Conley, 30, has since bounced around the league, making it less than a lock he will be part of the 49ers’ 53-man roster come September.

The Georgia alum spent last year with three teams, moving from Houston to Kansas City and Tennessee. Conley’s Chiefs return did not produce any game action, and he caught four passes in seven games with the receiver-depleted Titans. Conley did eclipse 300 receiving yards for the 2021 Texans, however.

Beyond their Deebo SamuelBrandon Aiyuk duo, the 49ers have Jauan Jennings on an ERFA tender and former third-round pick Danny Gray going into his second season. Gray caught just one pass as a rookie, but the team obviously still has the ex-SMU speedster in its plans.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/10/22

Here are the minor moves around the league in advance of the Week 14 slate of games:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans