HEADLINES

Kentavius Street

49ers’ Kentavius Street Cleared To Practice

December 12th, 2018 at 12:17pm CST by Zachary Links

The 49ers have opened the practice window for rookie defensive end Kentavius Street. Street remains on the PUP list but may have an opportunity to see the field before the year is through. 

The Niners selected Street in the fourth round of this year’s draft after he suffered a torn ACL. Prior to the injury, the N.C. State product had some second/third round buzz, so the Niners were happy to take the patient approach with the 21-year-old.

Street appeared in 51 games (35 starts) during his collegiate career, compiling 9.5 sacks. He had one of his best seasons as a senior in 2017, finishing with 38 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and one forced fumble in 13 games.

If activated for the 49ers’ final games, the rookie figures to support starters Arik Armstead and Solomon Thomas along with rotational players Cassius Marsh and Ronald Blair. Depending on team needs elsewhere, activating Street may require waiving seventh-round rookie Jullian Taylor.

West Notes: Raiders, Hill, Ekeler, 49ers

December 10th, 2018 at 7:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

The long-anticipated Reggie McKenzie departure leaves the Raiders in search of a replacement, but Jon Gruden is not certain to be involved in the interview process that will lead to his new decision-making partner/lieutenant.

“I know Mark (Davis) is going to accumulate a list of names and candidates, and I’m sure we’ll discuss those people later this week,” Gruden said (via ESPN.com’s Paul Gutierrez). “Right now, I don’t have any idea. … I’m not revealing any candidates because I don’t know of any.”

Jaguars player personnel director Chris Polian, Lions exec Jimmy Raye III and former Gruden Buccaneers coworker Mark Domenik have been loosely connected to the Raiders’ vacancy thus far. The team may want an executive who can push back against Gruden when necessary, per SI.com’s Albert Breer. College scouting director Shaun Herock is now filling in for McKenzie as GM, and Davis views Herock as a key organizational piece going forward. Gruden stopped short of proclaiming McKenzie’s right-hand man, player personnel director Joey Clinkscales, would have a long-term role. But Clinkscales remains in his post following McKenzie’s firing.

Here is the latest from the West divisions:

  • With a home game against the Chargers and a road tilt in Seattle, the Chiefs have a tough back-to-back assignment coming up. Their top wide receiver likely will not be 100 percent for those games. Tyreek Hill said Sunday, via NBC Sports’ Peter King, his foot was “bad.” Hill left Sunday’s overtime win because of injury but returned, and Andy Reid expects the deep threat to play against the Bolts on Thursday. The Chiefs possessed a top-flight skill-position quartet, powering Patrick Mahomes‘ MVP candidacy, this season. But they are now without Kareem Hunt and Sammy Watkins, the latter likely out until the playoffs. Hill has not missed an NFL game due to injury. A Hill absence would make Kansas City vulnerable against a Chargers team that would move into an 11-3 tie atop the AFC West with a win. That said, the Chiefs would still hold the divisional-record tiebreaker and keep the top spot.
  • Chances for a Thursday recovery for Austin Ekeler aren’t as good. The second-year Chargers running back suffered a bruised nerve in his neck, per Eric Williams of ESPN.com, and although he played through similar discomfort earlier this season, Ekeler not playing appears to be the most likely scenario. “It’s football, yeah, but there’s a lot of life after football, too,” Ekeler said Monday. Melvin Gordon is expected to return from his MCL injury, however.
  • The 49ers drafted N.C. State’s Kentavius Street shortly after he tore his ACL in a pre-draft workout with the Giants, but the rookie defensive end may be on the verge of practicing, Kyle Shanahan said Monday. Street is on the 49ers’ NFI list and will not play in a game this season, though, per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports (on Twitter). Still, practice work would help as Street prepares for a hopefully healthy 2019 offseason.
  • In case you missed it, Doug Baldwin is inactive for tonight’s Seahawks-Vikings game. Baldwin, who’s battled a knee injury most of this season, is now dealing with a hip problem.

49ers Cut 21 Players, Reach 53-Man Max

September 1st, 2018 at 3:08pm CST by Zachary Links

The 49ers have reached the 53-man roster maximum after releasing 21 players on Saturday afternoon. Here’s the full rundown:

The following players have been released:

In addition to those cuts, the Niners also have a few extra spots on their initial 53-man roster thanks to suspensions for wide receiver Victor Bolden and linebacker Reuben Foster. They’ll also be without defensive lineman Kentavius Street as he sits on the NFI list.

Draft Pick Signings: 5/7/18

May 7th, 2018 at 8:38pm CST by Ben Levine

Here are today’s draft pick signings:

  • The 49ers announced that they have signed defensive lineman Kentavius Street. The fourth-round pick (No. 128) out of North Carolina State appeared in 51 games (35 starts) during his collegiate career, compiling 9.5 sacks. He had one of his best seasons as a senior in 2017, finishing with 38 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and one forced fumble in 13 games. The rookie figures to compete with Cassius Marsh for reps behind Arik Armstead and Solomon Thomas.
  • The Chiefs signed sixth-round pick Tremon Smith to his four-year rookie contract today. The cornerback had a productive career at Central Arkansas, compiling 146 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 15 interceptions, and a pair of forced fumbles. Smith will have some competition for playing time, as he’s currently listed behind Kendall Fuller, David Amerson, Steven Nelson, Keith Reaser, and Will Redmond on the depth chart.

NFL Draft Rumors: Jets, Darnold, Rosen

April 24th, 2018 at 3:31pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest NFL draft news:

  • The Jets have cancelled Top 30 meetings with top prospects who aren’t quarterbacks, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, which only underscores their desire to take a QB at No. 3 overall. After the Jets sacrificed three second-round picks to jump from No. 6 to No. 3, it would be an absolute shock to see the Jets take a non-QB.
  • One GM estimates there is a “50 percent chance” that four QBs will go in the first five picks on Thursday night, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. That’s bad news for teams outside of the top 5 who are hoping to land a QB, but excellent news for the clubs who are not in the market for a top-flight passer. If that scenario plays out, it may mean that Louisville’s Lamar Jackson will be selected earlier than anticipated.
  • NC State defensive end Kentavius Street had successful ACL surgery last week, Rapoport hears (on Twitter). A full recovery is expected and Street is likely to still be drafted. Street had 19.5 sacks in four seasons at NC State, including nine sacks in his junior season. Before the injury, he appeared to have a shot at being taken during Day 2. Now, he seems more likely to go between rounds 4-7.

NC State DE Kentavius Street Tears ACL

April 5th, 2018 at 11:10am CST by Zachary Links

One noteworthy draft prospect appears to be out of the running for the first two days of the draft. North Carolina State defensive end Kentavius Street suffered a torn ACL during a private workout with the Giants, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (on Twitter). 

ACL tears typically take at least nine months to recover from, meaning that Street is unlikely to see the field in his rookie season. Heading into workouts, Street appeared to have a shot at coming off of the board in the third round. It’s now possible that Street will go undrafted altogether.

Street had 19.5 sacks in four seasons at NC State, including nine sacks in his junior season. He was largely overshadowed by star teammate Bradley Chubb – who is widely projected to be a top 10 pick – but had some buzz of his own this year.

In time, Street figures to pick up interest from clubs in search of a 4-3 defensive end. With the ability to squat 700 pounds and a rumored 475 one-rep bench press, he possesses the raw strength to succeed at the next level.