Minor NFL Transactions: 8/16/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Bryson Young
- Cut: LB Reggie Walker
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: OL Bryce Hargrove, LB George Obinna
- Reverted to IR: WR J’Mon Moore
Baltimore Ravens
- Re-signed: QB Kenji Bahar
- Placed on IR: CB Khalil Dorsey, CB Iman Marshall
Chicago Bears
- Waived: OL Gage Cervenka, DB Dionte Ruffin, WR Jester Weah
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: WR Reece Horn, WR Riley Lees
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on IR: TE Stephen Carlson, WR Ryan Switzer
Green Bay Packers
- Waived: OL Jon Dietzen, P Ryan Winslow
Houston Texans
- Waived: WR Isaiah Coulter
- Waived/injured: RB Dontrell Hilliard
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LS Matt Overton
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: K Austin MacGinnis, LB Derrick Moncrief, T Ryan Pope, OLB Max Roberts, DL George Silvanic
- Released from IR: DB Dayan Lake
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Khalil McClain
- Waived: TE Carson Meier
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived/injured: K Riley Patterson, WR Blake Proehl
New York Giants
- Signed: QB Brian Lewerke
- Waived/injured: QB Clayton Thorson
- Placed on IR: LB TJ Brunson, OL Kyle Murphy, S Joshua Kalu
New York Jets
- Waived: K Chris Naggar
- Activated off PUP list: DL Quinnen Williams
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: LB Donald Payne, DL Eddie Vanderdoes
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: LB Nate Evans, OT Lukayus McNeil, CB Jordan Miller, DT Walter Palmore, WR Anthony Ratliff-Williams, RB Cameron Scarlett
49ers' Josh Rosen Trending Downward
- Kyle Shanahan said recently Josh Rosen was trending downward. The former top-10 pick, who is vying for the 49ers‘ third-string job, took a couple of steps back in recent practices, per Shanahan (via the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch). In Rosen’s preseason debut with the team, he completed 10 of 15 passes for 93 yards but threw an interception. When asked postgame about Shanahan’s critique, Rosen said he does not receive many practice reps in the first place, per Branch, who adds it is unlikely Rosen gained ground in his competition with Nate Sudfeld to make the team’s 53-man roster. Sudfeld did not play in the 49ers’ preseason opener. The 49ers keeping both, with the competition’s loser on the practice squad, is in play. But Rosen losing this battle would represent another setback in a pro career filled with them.
49ers Sign LB Mychal Kendricks
Aug. 15: Kendricks’ visit with the 49ers went well enough to land him a contract, as Rapoport tweets. It will likely be a veteran minimum pact, and based on head coach Kyle Shanahan‘s comments on the matter, Kendricks will have to fight for a roster spot.
Shanahan indicated that the plan is for Kendricks to add competition and depth to San Francisco’s LB corps as the team waits for Azeez Al-Shaair and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles to return (Twitter link via Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com). Still, Kendricks’ experience could be a boon to a club that is hoping to contend for a postseason berth in 2021.
Aug. 13: Mychal Kendricks managed to continue his career through legal turmoil, but the veteran linebacker has not been connected to a team this year. The 49ers, however, are taking a look.
Kendricks met with the 49ers on Friday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Now 30, Kendricks played in just one game last season. But he is another year removed from the ACL tear he suffered late in the 2019 season.
The 49ers present an interesting connection for Kendricks as well. New San Francisco defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans, a 10-year NFL veteran as a linebacker, was Kendricks’ teammate for four years in Philadelphia. The Eagles drafted Kendricks in the 2012 second round, making that pick shortly after signing Ryans as a free agent. The two were Eagles starting ‘backers in each of those seasons.
The Seahawks employed Kendricks from 2018-19, using him as a starter alongside stalwarts Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright. They did so despite the linebacker’s insider trading issue, which caused the Browns to cut him in the summer of 2018. However, a ruling finally came down on that matter this year. Kendricks received three years’ probation last month, clearing a path for him to continue his career without this looming cloud.
San Francisco recently gave Fred Warner a top-market linebacker extension and employs Dre Greenlaw as a fellow starter. The team is light on a surefire third starter option for its 4-3 look. Kendricks operated as an outside linebacker in Seattle’s 4-3 scheme, with his presence prompting the Seahawks to use more base sets during his tenure, and did the same in Philly for much of his six-year Eagles stay.
Washington signed Kendricks late last season, poaching him off the Seahawks’ practice squad. He has come back from both an ACL tear and a broken tibia, which ended his 2018 season early, and will attempt to continue his career in a 10th season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/13/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Chicago Bears
- Waived: WR Thomas Ives
Green Bay Packers
- Reverted to IR: LB Randy Ramsey
Houston Texans
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: OT Tytus Howard, OT Roderick Johnson, OT Laremy Tunsil
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from active/PUP list: CB Isaiah Johnson
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Lawrence Woods
- Waived: LB Quentin Poling
- Released from IR via injury settlement: DB Keith Washington
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released from IR via injury settlement: DB Nate Meadors
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: DL Davin Bellamy
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: DE Sam Renner
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/12/21
Here are Thursday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: RB James Conner, TE Darrell Daniels, DL Leki Fotu, DB Charles Washington; the four were deemed high-risk close contacts
Detroit Lions
- Reverted to IR: RB Michael Warren
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: CB Dominique Martin
- Waived/injured: LB Randy Ramsey
Indianapolis Colts
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Gary Jennings
New Orleans Saints
- Claimed (from Giants): DL R.J. McIntosh
- Reverted to IR: WR Jalen McCleskey
New York Jets
- Released from IR via injury settlement: DB Brendon White
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DL Eddie Vanderdoes
Seattle Seahawks
- Re-signed: WR Darece Roberson
- Waived: CB Bryan Mills
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Reggie Floyd
- Waived: WR Kalija Lipscomb
- Waived/injured: OL Adam Coon
Patrick Peterson Addresses Cardinals Exit
Patrick Peterson joined the Vikings on a one-year, $8MM deal on the second day of this year’s legal tampering period. This agreement, however, came after discussions with the Cardinals and a few other NFC teams.
The Cowboys, 49ers and Eagles each discussed deals with the former All-Pro cornerback, Dan Pompei of The Athletic reports (subscription required), noting Dallas and San Francisco made early pushes to add the veteran. This came after Peterson’s talks with the Cardinals ceased.
The 31-year-old corner said Cardinals GM Steve Keim communicated to him at his 2020 exit interview a desire for him to stay in Arizona, and Peterson said the Cards continued to tell him they wanted him back in February. Michael Bidwill said as much publicly at that point, but that is the last we heard on a Peterson return to the desert. That appears to be the last Peterson heard on the topic as well.
“I was just frustrated and upset at how upper management handled the situation,” Peterson said, via Pompei. “You tell me one thing, then when it’s time to talk, you turn your shoulder on me like it’s cold shoulder. I’ve been in this league a long time. Thirty years old. Grown man. Talk to me like a grown man, not like a child or your side piece.”
Peterson’s Vikings pact came to be after he instructed his agent to call Mike Zimmer, per Pompei. The All-Decade defender, like many around the league who agreed to one-year deals, hopes to cash in when the cap spikes in 2022. Peterson said Keim did reach out after news of his Vikings agreement surfaced, but the irked cornerback did not respond to the GM’s text message.
“I’m willing to bet on myself for this season knowing the salary cap is going to go back up, and I can have opportunities to come back to the table and get more than what I got this year,” Peterson said.
It is unlikely the other NFC teams pursuing Peterson were offering too much, given his recent play. The Cowboys ended up drafting corners in the second and third rounds, while the 49ers did not make a notable outside hire here this year. The Eagles waited a while but signed Steven Nelson on a low-cost deal. An agreement with Titans cap casualty Malcolm Butler became the Cardinals’ main post-Peterson cornerback move.
Peterson’s string of Pro Bowls stopped at eight, with a six-game PED suspension in 2019 stalling his momentum. The LSU product’s coverage numbers dropped noticeably from 2018 to 2019, and Pro Football Focus graded him 83rd among corners in 2020. Peterson will attempt to re-route his career in Minnesota.
49ers Place Tony Jefferson On IR
Tony Jefferson‘s season is over. On Thursday, the 49ers placed the veteran safety on injured reserve due to groin and hamstring issues. 
Jefferson hasn’t played since 2019, when he tore his ACL. Then, the pandemic slowed his rehab, keeping him off the field throughout 2020. Under normal circumstances, Jefferson would have been mostly healed by April.
“I was really getting into a groove with my workouts and my rehab,” Jefferson said in April. “Now, I’m waiting two or three weeks just to get a medicine ball.”
After spending the early part of his career with the Cardinals, Jefferson inked a four-year, $34MM contract with the Ravens in 2017. He started in all 35 of his games for Baltimore from 2017-2019, but the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus weren’t fond of his five-game 2019 season. The Ravens released Jefferson in February of 2020, but he wasn’t healthy enough to land a deal until this summer when the Niners added him on a one-year pact.
Jefferson was gearing up to support free safety Jimmie Ward and strong safety Jaquiski Tartt. Instead, he’ll have to rest, recover, and maybe even consider life beyond football. His snaps will be absorbed by Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, who agreed to terms on Wednesday.
To take his place on the roster, the 49ers have signed defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes. The 26-year-old (27 in October) is hoping to see his first live action since 2019, when he appeared in three games for the Texans.
49ers To Sign Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
Veteran safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix auditioned for the 49ers yesterday, and it apparently went well. He’ll be signing a deal with San Francisco, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
Clinton-Dix also had a workout with the Colts last week, and tried out for the Panthers back in June. Now with training camps well underway, he finally found a home. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan “did not sound optimistic” when discussing the health of fellow safety Jaquiski Tartt yesterday, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports tweets, which could help explain this signing.
Tartt is still recovering from a turf toe injury he suffered last season. The 21st overall pick of the 2014 draft, Clinton-Dix spent his first five pro seasons in Green Bay. He made the Pro Bowl, and was a second-team All-Pro, with the Packers in 2016. Traded to Washington midway through the 2018 campaign for a fourth-round pick, he then was with Chicago in 2019 where he started all 16 games.
Even though he had started 16 games for five straight seasons he didn’t have a super hot market last offseason, eventually signing a one-year, $3.75MM deal with Dallas. Despite having a couple million in guarantees the Cowboys cut him right before the start of the season and he spent the rest of the year out of football.
Clinton-Dix is still only 28, so he should be in good shape physically. It’s not a bad depth signing at this stage in the process for the 49ers.
49ers Cut Kevin White, Sign Donald Payne
The 49ers have released wide receiver Kevin White, per a club announcement. In a corresponding move, they’ve added linebacker Donald Payne to their offseason roster.
[RELATED: 49ers Working Out Clinton-Dix, McDougald]
White, a former No. 7 overall pick by the Bears, came out of West Virginia in 2015 with tons of hype. Unfortunately, injuries have limited him to just 17 games since then. Even though the Niners were decimated by injuries last year, White was jockeyed on and off the roster last year. He appeared in three games for SF in 2020 without recording an official statistic. For his career, White has 25 catches for 285 yards and zero touchdowns.
The 49ers will move ahead with Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel as their leading receivers, plus support from Trent Sherfield, Mohamed Sanu, Jauan Jennings, and others vying for the final WR spots on the depth chart. White was near the bottom of the team’s ~12 WR hopefuls in camp, so his release doesn’t come as a huge surprise.
Payne, meanwhile, has not seen live action since he was with the Jaguars in 2019. That year, he recorded 61 total tackles with one sack, one pass defensed, and one fumble recovery.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/10/21
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves, with the list being updated throughout the day:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Demetrius Harris, DL Margus Hunt, DL Josh Mauro
- Waived: TE Cary Angeline, S Jamal Carter, OT Ryan Pope, CB Donald Rutledge
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from NFI list: DE Jerry Hughes
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Marquel Lee
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: FB Mikey Daniel
Chicago Bears
- Activated from NFI list: S Eddie Jackson
Houston Texans
- Claimed (from Lions): C Drake Jackson
- Signed: RB Darius Jackson
- Waived: LS Mitchell Fraboni
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: QB Case Cookus
- Waived: WR Trey Quinn
Los Angeles Rams
- Claimed (from Falcons): CB Tyler Hall
- Waived: DB Jovan Grant, K Brandon Wright
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Kellen Mond
New England Patriots
- Signed: S Malik Gant
- Waived: RB Tyler Gaffney
New York Giants
- Re-signed: LB Ryan Anderson
- Waived: TE Tommy Stevens
Philadelphia Eagles
- Claimed (from Panthers): WR Marken Michel
- Waived/injured: WR Michael Walker
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Released from IR via injury settlement: G Anthony Coyle
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DE Shilique Calhoun, CB Alexander Myres
- Waived: CB Mark Fields, OT Isaiah Williams
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: OT Kukayus McNeil, WR Anthony Ratliff-Williams
- Waived: TE Michael Jacobson, WR Darece Roberson
Tennessee Titans
- Waived/injured: TE Donnie Ernsberger